The ruling-Congress led UDF and CPI(M)-led LDF in Kerala are locked in a neck and neck race leading in nine seats each as counting progressed into the third hour in 20 seats.
Congress seems to be in for a shock as counting trend indicated that its candidate Union Minister Shashi Tharoor trailed by over 10,000 votes against his BJP rival O Rajagopal in Thiruvananthapuram seat.
LDF nominees are ahead in Kasargode, Vatakara, Palakkad, Alathur, Thrissur, Chalakkudi, Idukki, Mavelikkara and Attingal.
Trailing Congress candidates include Tharoor, Mullapally Ramachandran and party spokesperson P C Chacko.
The UDF leads in Ernakulam, Wayanad, Kozhikode, Malappuram, Ponnani, Kottayam, Kollam, Alappuzha and Pathanamthitta.
Union Minister K V Thomas is in a comfortable position with a lead of over 15,000 votes in Ernakulam.
IUML leader E Ahamed has established an unassailable lead of over 36,000 votes in Malappuram and his colleague E T Muhammad Basheer a clear edge of over 13,000 votes in Ponnani.
