MALAPPURAM: UDF candidate P K Kunhalikutty's lead crossed by over one lakh votes as counting to Malappuram Lok Sabha bypoll began here on Monday.
The majority is expected to be a record this time as nearly half of votes are yet to be counted. As per the details of the counting, the UDF has managed to maintain a good lead in all the seven assembly constituencies in Malappuram Parliament constituency.
P K Kunhalikutty of Congress-led UDF candidate and IUML General Secretary, LDF candidate MB Faisal (CPI-M) and NDA nominee N Sreeprakash of BJP are contesting in the bypolls along with six
independent candidates.
The counting of votes is expected to get over by 11:00 am. Malappuram recorded 71.33 per cent voting in the elections. The by-election is necessitated following the death of sitting IUML MP E Ahamed on February 1.