Thiruvananthapuram: The opposition United Democratic Front (UDF) is set to make major inroads in the Lok Sabha elections in the state.
A Manorama News-Karvy exit poll predicted 15 seats for the Congress-led UDF and four for the Left Democratic Front and one for the National Democratic Front.
The NDA is tipped to have an edge in the Thiruvananthapuram Lok Sabha seat, where Kummanam Rajasekharan is pitted against Shashi Tharoor of the Congress and C Divakaran of the CPI.
Four other seats are also headed for a photo finish with the UDF and LDF having an edge in two of these seats each.
The UDF has an advantage in a photo finish scenario in Kannur and Kozhikode seats, while in Alappuzha and Thrissur seats the LDF has an edge, as per the survey.
Set back for LDF in North Kerala
In North Kerala, the UDF will win 5 seats, while the CPM-led Left Democratic Front (LDF) is expected to get just a seat. Two constituencies would witness a photo finish.
UDF to capture Kasaragod
The UDF will register an upset win over LDF in Kasaragod. Rajmohan Unnithan of the Congress would trounce LDF’s K P Satheesh Chandran, as per the survey.
Photo finish in Kannur
In the Kannur Lok Sabha seat, the Congress has a slight edge, but the result is expected to be a photo finish.
UDF to retain Vadakara
K Muraleedharan of the Congress would emerge as the winner with a clear majority in the Vadakara seat. Pre-poll surveys had predicted a narrow win for the Congress over P Jayarajan of the CPM.
The contituency was considered to be witnssing a tough contest as per pre-poll surveys.
Suspense only over Rahul’s majority
With Rahul Gandhi entering the fray, there was no uncertainty about a UDF win in Wayanad. The Manorama News exit poll predicts a massive win for the Congress president. Only the majority needs to be ascertained.
Photo finish in Kozhikode
Another seat heading for a photo finish is Kozhikode. Though M K Raghavan of the Congress had an upper hand when the election was announced, a graft charged against him during the campaign has dented his chances. However, A Pradeep Kumar of the LDF could not capitalize on the development and Raghavan still holds a slight edge.
Kunhalikutty in Malappuram
The Manorama News exit poll confirms that Muslim League heavyweight P K Kunhalikutty would easily defeat LDF’s young candidate M K Sanu.
E T again in Ponnani
Ponnani is a seat where Muslim League has significant influence, which would enable UDF nominee E T Mohammed Basheer to emerge as the clear winner.
Nilambur MLA P V Anwar would not make much impact, says the Manorama News exit poll.
Rajesh in Palakkad
The challenge raised by UDF’s V K Sreekandan was not sufficient to ensure a victory in Palakkad. Sitting MP M B Rajesh would retain the seat.
UDF ahead in Central Kerala
The UDF will get five out of six seats in Central Kerala. The Thrissur constituency would witness a photo finish. While the UDF would secure 42 per cent of the votes in the Central region, the LDF will garner 36 per cent.
The share of the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) is predicted to be 16 per cent while others are expected to get 6 per cent of votes polled.
Ramya to wrest Alathur
Alathur attracted much attention with the arrival of Ramya Haridas as the Congress candidate. Sitting MP P K Biju is conetesting for a hat-trick of wins. The Manorama News exit poll predicts a victory for Ramya.
Uncertainty in Thrissur
A soon as actor Suresh Gopi entered the fray as the NDA candidate in Thrissur, it was certain that the vote share of the other contestants would be severely affected. The Manorama News-Karvy Insights survey suggests a photo finish in the seat between LDF’s Rajaji Mathew Thomas and UDF’s T N Prathapan. The CPI candidate enjoys a slight advantage.
No chance for Innocent
Sitting MP and LDF nominee Innocent, who sought a re-election in Chalakkudy, has no chance for a victory. UDF candidate Benny Behanan would be the clear winner.
Even though Benny Behanan had been hospitalized during the campaign after suffering a heart attack, his prospects were not affected.
Certain win for Hibi
The LDF can expect no miracle in Ernakulam Lok Sabha seat. The UDF’s Hibi Eden would emerge winner defeating P Rajeev, one of the strongest candidates put up by the CPM in the state.
Dean to wrest Idukki
Joice George of the LDF had registered a dramatic win in Idukki during the last Lok Sabha polls. However, he would be defeated this time. Dean Kuriakose of the Congress, who had contested against Joice in 2014 too, is predicted to win the latest election.
Chazhikkadan to win from Kottayam
In the Kottayam seat, UDF’s Thomas Chazhikkadan had a tough opponent in LDF’s V N Vasavan. However, Manorama News predicts a victory for Chazhikkadan.
It is felt that he would make significant gains.
It remains to be seen if NDA’s P C Thomas, another heavyweight who contested from Kottayam, would improve the front's vote share.
UDF gains in south too
Of the six Lok Sabha seats in South Kerala, three would go to the UDF and one to LDF. A photo finish is predicted in two constituencies.
The poll also suggests a slight advantage for the NDA in one seat.
However, in Pathanamthitta, where NDA was expected to make major gains before the Lok Sabha elections, the UDF is expected to win.
In Alappuzha, where the LDF was ahead in the campaign, the left has a slight edge.
The seat attracted attention with the candidature of A M Arif MLA, UDF’s Shanimol Usman and NDA's K S Radhakrishnan, a former PSC chairman.
As per the Manorama News exit poll, Alappuzha would witness a photo finish. Even though the LDF and UDF nominees had put up good fight, Arif has a slight edge.
Kodikkunnil again in Mavelikkara
There will be no surprises in Mavelikkara. Kodikkunnil Suresh of the Congress would be the winner here, leaving LDF’s Chittayam Gopakumar and NDA’s Thazhava Sahadevan behind.
Anto Antony to retain Pathanamthitta
The constituency witnessed intense debates over issues such as the entry of young women to Sabarimala temple and the candidature of BJP leader K Surendran. The survey found that the Sabarimala issue had certainly influenced voters, but UDF’s Anto Antony would emerge winner again. LDF’s Veena George has no chance, as per the exit poll.
Premachandran safe in Kollam
The CPM had fielded K N Balagopal, one of its strongest leaders enjoying organizational support, in Kollam. However, that would not be sufficient to trounce UDF’s siting MP N K Premachandran. THE NDA’s nominee was K V Sabu.
No challenge for Sampath
Attingal is considered a fortress of the LDF and its nominee A Sampath would retain the seat. The UDF had put up a strong candidate, Adoor Prakash, but the plan is unlikely to work. The seat was notable for the candidature of BJP’s Sobha Surendran also.
Close fight in Thiruvananthapuram
All the three fronts fielded strong candidates in Thiruvananthapuram. While UDF’s Shashi Tharoor fought to retain his seat, LDF’s C Divakaran and NDA’s Kummanam Rajasekharan gave him a stiff challenge. Manorama News survey predicts a photo finish though the NDA candidate enjoys a slight edge. If NDA wins, the second spot will be occupied by the UDF, according to the exit poll.
The results of the seven-phased polls will be announced by the election commission on May 23.
An exit poll is a poll of voters taken immediately after they come out of polling stations. The results of the exit polls, usually conducted by private surveying firms or institutions working for media houses, are compiled after asking voters whom they actually voted for. Exit poll results have been mostly accurate though there were instances when predictions did not match actual results.