The elections for three Rajya Saha seats from Kerala began at 0900 hrs at the Assembly Conference Hall here today. Four candidates are contesting the elections, Prof PJ Kurian of Congress, Joy Abraham of Kerala Congress (M), CP Narayanan of CPI(M), and CN Chandran of CPI. However, the LDF has announced Narayanan as its first choice. As per the strengths in the Assembly, the Congress-led UDF could win two seats and the CPI(M)-led LDF one seat on the basis of single transferable vote system. The voting would end at 1600 hrs and counting start at 1700 hrs.
The ruling UDF has 73 members, including the Speaker, and the LDF has 67 members in the State Assembly. The minimum votes required to win the election was 36.
Both the UDF and the LDF have decided to utilise the service of their party agents to avoid cross voting.
—-UNI—