UDF maintains edge in initial round in Kerala

The ruling Congress-led UDF is leading in eight seats and the LDF in two seats as the counting is progressing in all the 20 seats.

The leading Congress candidates include K V Thomas (Ernakulam), M I Shanawas (Wayanad), T Siddique (Kasargode) and M K Raghavan in Kozhikode are leading.

IUML candidates E Ahamed in Malappuram and E T Muhammad Basheer in Ponnani are also ahead of their LDF opponents.

RSP's N K Premachandran is leading by 166 votes over his nearest rival.

CPI(M)'s P K Sreemathy is leading over INC's sitting MP K Sudhakaran by 15,228 votes.