KOTTAYAM: As the vote counting of Pala by-election is going on, LDF’s Mani C Kappan is leading by above 3000 votes votes.
UDF’s Jose Tom is in the second position and BJP is in the thrid position.

Mani C Kappan is leading in the consituency in which the UDF had the upper hand under the late leader K M Mani.

Currently, Mani C Kappan is raising his lead.

Meanwhile, Jose Tom alleged that there was vote-trading during the by-election. He also alleged that BJP also cross voted for the LDF. “The lead in Ramapuram is clear proof of this as we failed to get the expected votes,” he said.

But UDF convenor Benny Behanan said that the vote counting taking place was not in panchayat where UDF has influence. He said he was still hoping for victory.

Ramapuram is the panchayat where BJP and Congress have high expectations. In the last Lok Sabha election, the panchayat gave UDF a lead of 4440.

Ramapuram is a panchayat where Joseph Group has a strong influence. Hence the vote of Joseph Group is very decisive here.
Meanwhile, in the 2016 Assembly election, K M Mani got a lead of 180 votes. In the 2011 assembly election, Mani C Kappan had got a lead of 179 votes.