KOTTAYAM: The results of the Pala by-polls are not seen as a defeat, said Kerala Congress (M) leader Jose K Mani’s wife Nisha Jose K Mani. This defeat is seen as a platform for learning. Meantime, Jose K Mani had earlier acknowledged the defeat and said they will restore people’s confidence.

Jose had earlier mentioned that the party will examine the reasons for the failure. The UDF faced the polls jointly. However, not getting the party symbol was a setback. Jose Tom’s name and symbol was in the seventh place in voting machines. The party got all votes of the UDF and is not into another controversy, he said.

Mani C Kappan won by a majority of 2943 votes. He defeated Jose Tom of the UDF in a closely contested fight. Pala was a bastion of the UDF held by former minister K M Mani for the last five decades.

The win has come as a huge relief to the LDF after its rout in the Lok Sabha polls.