Thiruvananthapuram, May 4 -- In a surprising political development during the Kerala Assembly election counting on Monday, the United Democratic Front (UDF) has taken an early lead in the high-profile Dharmadam constituency, where Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan is contesting.
Early rounds of counting showed Congress-led UDF candidate V P Abdul Rasheed moving ahead of Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, marking a significant shift in what has traditionally been considered a strong CPI(M) bastion in Kannur district.
Dharmadam has been one of the most closely watched constituencies in the state due to the presence of the Chief Minister himself. Pinarayi Vijayan, who has represented the constituency in previous elections with comfortable margin...