The counting of votes for the bypoll held for Malappuram Lok Sabha constituencyhas started at the Government College on Monday.
Under tight security, the counting is going on in seven halls of the college building, divided according to the Assembly segments in the Lok Sabha constituency. An additional hall has been allocated for counting the postal votes.
As many as 300 officers are assigned the task in the presence of a returning officer.
With six independents and three party candidates, a total of nine persons are in the fray for the election necessitated by the demise of Muslim League leader E Ahamed. The Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) has won all but one election held in the parliamentary consistency.
Here are the live updates:
12:15 pm:
IUML candidate Kunhalikutty lashes out at BJP, says result a is blow to BJP's politics.
12:00 pm:
IUML wins Malappuram Lok Sabha bypolls. UDF Candidate P K Kunhalikutty wins by a margin of 171038 votes defeating LDF's M B Faisal
11:20 am:
IUML takes lead in LDF strongholds too.
10:35 am:
IUML's lead crosses 1.5 lakh while 70 votes are counted
10:15 am:
P K Kunhalikutty's lead crosses over one lakh votes. (Read here)
09:45 am:
UDF Candidate Kunhalikutty's lead increases by over 65000 votes.
09:35 am:
LDF leaders start to leave the counting centre.
09:30 am:
UDF Candidate Kunhalikutty's lead increases by 50000 votes within 1.5 hours of counting.
09:25 am
09:20 am
IUML workers flock to counting centre. Arrangements on for procession.
09:15 am
LDF candidate trials by more than 32000 votes wen second round results are out
09:10 am
IUML lead goes down to 7000.
09:05 am
09:00 am
UDF Candidate P K Kunhalikutty's lead increases by over 22000 votes as counting begins
08:55 am
IUML takes lead of 18000 as the first round of results are out
08:45 am
LDF and BJP lag behind over 14000 votes
08:35 am
IUML candidate P K Kunhalikutty leads by over 6000 votes as counting in Malappuram bypolls begins today
07:15 am
Officers, party workers started to arrive. Stage is set for counting.