Decision on Chengannur by-election soon: Mani

Ahead of the May 28 Chengannur Assembly by-election, Kerala Congress (Mani) chief K.M. Mani on Friday said a decision on his party's support to one of the three fronts in Kerala will be taken within a week.

Given that Mani's party has a support base of around 5,000 voters, his support is crucial.

Last year, Mani's party severed ties with the Congress-led United Democratic Front after close to four decades. His party's six legislators sit as a separate block in the Assembly.

Apart from the UDF, leaders of the Bharatiya Janata Party and Communist Party of India-Marxist-led Left Democratic Front have met Mani to seek his party's support.

"A final decision will come in a week's time," Mani told reporters.

CPI-M legislator K.K. Ramachandran Nair's death in January 2016 necessitated the bye-election to the seat. Counting of votes will take place on May 31.

Chengannur was a Congress citadel for close to three decades until Nair broke through in 2016.

In 2016, Nair secured 52,880 votes while two-time Congress legislator P.C. Vishnunath got 44,987; BJP's P. Sreedharan Pillai came a close third with 42,682 votes.

Pillai is again in the fray whereas the CPI-M has fielded Alappuzha District Secretary Saji Cherian. The Congress has fielded D. Vijayakumar.

--IANS

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