Saji Cheriyan of the ruling CPI(M)-led LDF was leading by a margin of 1,119 votes against his nearest Congress rival in the Chengannur by-poll as initial trends trickled in after counting began at 8 AM today.
Cheriyan, the party's Alappuzha district secretary, has polled 3,383 votes, while his nearest rival D Vijaykumar of the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) has polled 2,264 votes.
BJP's P Sreedharan Pillai is in the third place with 1,365 votes.
Of the 182 polling booths, counting has been completed in 9 booths.
The by-election was necessitated following the death of sitting MLA K K Ramachandran Nair (CPM) in January this year due to illness.
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