KOCHI: Counting of votes for Thrikkakara by-election has started. The first lead is in favour of the UDF. Uma Thomas leads in postal votes. Uma got three votes while the LDF and BJP got two votes each. Three votes are found to be invalid. There were ten postal votes in total. The votes in the electronic voting machine have started counting. The votes in the UDF strongholds are counted first. There is high security in the counting centres.

The counting of votes are taking place in 21 tables. It will take 12 rounds to count all the votes. 21 booths are counted in one round. In the first round, votes will be counted in booths from one to 15 and then in other booths. There will be 21 booths in the first 11 rounds and eight booths in the final round. There are a total of 239 booths.

Despite the high voltage campaign, the low turnout has caused considerable concern to all the three fronts. It was the Kochi Corporation the hopes of the fronts faded. In many booths in the corporation, the turnout was less than 50 %. Many of these are UDF strongholds. However, the UDF said that 50 % of the booths, which normally do not even reach 40 % is a big deal and the votes cast in these booths will be even higher. Most of the polling booths in Thrikkakara municipality recorded a good polling. When the UDF says that they will get a bigger majority than last time, the LDF says victory is theirs. The BJP is hoping to spring a surprise.