Thiruvananthapuram, May 2 (Representative) Pinarayi Vijayan-led Left Democratic Front (LDF) is all set to retain power in Kerala by leading in nearly 100 of 140 Assembly seats as counting is still in progress, altering the four-decades-long electoral tradition in Kerala. The ruling LDF was leading in 99 of the total 140 seats while opposition UDF was ahead in 41 segments and BJP-led NDA had to settle with no seat, losing its stiiting seat in Nemom.
Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, Health Minister KK Shailaja, Tourism Minister Kadakampally Surendran, former Chief Minister Oommen Chandy and opposition leader Ramesh Chennithala won in their respective constituencies. Other Ministers including T P Ramakrishnan, AC Moideen, M M Mani, K Krishnankutty and Kadannappally Ramachandran won in their respective constituencies. However, Minister J Mercykutty Amma was defeated by the Congress candidate PC Vishnunath. Meanwhile, BJP leaders including ‘Metroman’ E Sreedharan, BJP state chief K Surendran, Sobha Surendran, Kummanam Rajasekharan, M T Ramesh and P K Krishnadas lost to their rivals in their seats. Kerala Congress (M) chief Jose K Mani in Pala was defeated by sitting MLA Mani C Kappan. K K Rema, the widow of slain Revolutionary Marxist Party (RMP) leader T P Chandrasekharan, won from Vadakara in Kozhikode.