PIRACOM: In one of the worst drubbings the LDF has received in recent times, Anoop Jacob of KC(Jacob) swept aside M J Jacob of the CPM with a massive margin of 12,070 votes in the Piravom byelection, riding on the crest of a popular wave in favour of the Oommen Chandy Government.
The LDF was stunned as its stronghold panchayats fell one after the other giving the lead to the UDF though Anoop trailed behind Jacob initially a few minutes after the counting started at 8 am.
Thereafter, Anoop raced ahead till the majority reached the unbeatable level which went beyond the expectations of both the fronts. Yet, Anoop could not break the record margin of 12,720 established by his father T M Jacob in the 2001 Assembly elections.
Anoop, who will be sworn in as MLA on Thursday, is likely to be made a minister in the UDF Govt next week.
While Anoop garnered 82,756 votes, M J Jacob polled 70,686. The BJP suffered a major setback as its candidate K R Rajagopal could poll only 3241 votes, compared to 4234 votes last time, indicating a major drain from its vote bank. Out of the 12 panchayats in the constituency, the LDF could sustain lead in only Thiruvankulam and Chottanikkara.
Anoop’s massive majority was much beyond the calculations of even the UDF. The bypoll, with a record voter turnout of 86.3 pc, had nine candidates in the fray. Anoop got the highest margin of 2197 votes in Thirumaradi panchayat. Next to it was UDF stronghold Elanji where he scored a majority of 1832. In Mulanthuruthy also, Anoop got the upper hand of 1522 votes.
Dedicating the victory to his father, Anoop, who fought on the ‘torch’ symbol, said he had expected a margin of over 10,000 votes. “We expected some undercurrents. But the polls show that the people stood united with the UDF. It’s the victory of a united UDF,” Anoop said.
After the counting at Nirmala Junior School Muvattupuzha, LDF candidate M J Jacob said the party should study the reasons for the drain of votes from Thiruvamkulam and Chottanikkara. “There was a collective effort by the government machinery, various groups and community organisations. I’m happy that the LDF could win more than 70,000 uninfluenced votes,” he said.