Congress-led ruling UDF combine in Kerala scored a major political victory on Friday with its nominee R Selvaraj defeating the CPM candidate F Lawrence with a massive majority of over 6300 votes in the bypoll to the Neyyattinkara assembly seat.
As per the preliminary reports Selvaraj polled 52528 votes, while Lawrence received 46194 votes. The BJP nominee O Rajagopal came third by polling 30507 votes.
The bypoll was necessitated because of the defection of Selvaraj from the CPM following differences of opinion with the state leadership of the party and, resignation from assembly.
