KOTTAYAM: Maria Oommen, sister of UDF candidate Chandy Oommen, reacted while the counting of votes in the Puthupally by-election is progressing. She responded after Chandy Oommen’s majority crossed 16,000.

‘High expectation and there is no doubt. The party and the family believe that he will get a good majority. People have accepted Chandy Oommen just like Oommen Chandy. Now we are eagerly waiting for the announcement of the election results,' said Maria Oommen.

The votes are counted at the center set up in the Kottayam Baselios College Auditorium. The votes were scheduled to start at 8 am but was delayed a bit. The strong room of the college where the voting machines are kept opened only at 7.45 am.

Counting of votes are held on 20 tables. 14 tables for electronic voting machines, five for postal votes and one for service voters polled through the Electronically Transmitted Postal Ballot System (ETPBS). There are 74 counting officers. 32 CAPF personnel and an armed police battalion have been deployed for the security of the counting centre.