KOCHI: The first results in the Kochi Corporation was a shock to the Congress. Senior leader N Venugopal fielded as the mayor candidate lost by one vote. In the elections held in Island Ward, the Congress mayor candidate lost to the BJP candidate by just one vote. Meantime, the Congress candidate has come to the fore with a complaint.

When the polls were held, 496 votes were polled but only 495 votes were shown in the voting machine. The election official drew the names of five people to tally the number and then polled one of them. Venugopal alleged that it was for the BJP candidate. He said he would consider filing a complaint with the Election Commission in this regard. The party workers had worked sincerely in the election campaign, he said. The Island Ward was the sitting seat of the congress.