Kochi, June 24 -- The Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) scored an impressive victory in the Nilambur assembly bypoll on Monday, wresting the seat from the ruling CPI(M)-led Left Democratic Front (LDF), gaining momentum as it heads towards the assembly elections in Kerala next year.

Riding on what it claimed as a wave of "anti-incumbency sentiments" against the (chief minister) Pinarayi Vijayan-led government, UDF's Aryadan Shoukath beat his LDF rival M Swaraj by 11,077 votes, the Election Commission of India (ECI) data showed.

After his win, Shoukath told reporters that it was the victory of the people of Kerala.

"For the past nine years, the people of Nilambur had been neglected. It is their victory. It shows the public anger...