Thiruvananthapuram: Communist Party Marxist (CPM) led Left Democratic Front (LDF) continued its surge in Kerala with the first result going its way and establishing comfortable lead in 15 constituencies while Congress-led ruling UDF is ahead in three and the NDA in one as the counting moved to the final rounds.

LDF-Independent Sebastian Paul retained Ernakulam seat by margin of over 68000 over the Congress rival Edward Edezhath.

Union Minister of State for Law (IFDP-NDA) candidate P C Thomas is ahead by 10,000 votes over his nearest CPI-M rival P M Ismail in Muvvattupuzha, while the BJP aspirants are trailing in all the seats it contested. Elections 2004-Where is India heading...
Political Parties in India

CPI-M nominees have established winnable leads in Kasargode, Kannur, Badagara, Manjeri, Ottappalam, Palakkad, Mukundapuram, Kottayam, Kollam and Chirayinkil.

CPI nomineees are ahead in Thiruvananthapuram, Adoor and Thrissur.

JD (S) State president M P Veerendrakumar has established an unassailable lead of about 55,000 votes in Kozhikode.

LDF partner KEC nominee Francis George is leading by over 50,000 votes in Idukki.

The two candidates slightly ahead of their rivals are AICC secretary Ramesh Chennithala in Mavelikkara and V M Sudheeran in Alappuzha.

The Indian Union Muslim League is in for jolt as its aspirant in Manjery, KPA Majeed, is behind his CPI-M rival T K Hamsa in the League citadel which they had never lost since 1952.However, IUML general secretary E Ahmed has established winnable lead of over 60,000 votes in Ponnani.