KOCHI: What will be the margin of victory of the winner in Piravom where counting begins at 8 am on Wednesday? The margin will indicate the swing of popular mood in the state for or against Chief Minister Oommen Chandy and the UDF Government. In the 2011 Assembly elections, T M Jacob had scraped through with a majority of 157 votes. If his son Anoop Jacob betters the record now, it will be attributed to a host of factors, including Chandy’s image. By 10 am, results will be out from the counting centre at Nirmala Junior School, Muvattupuzha. With a record voter turnout of 86.3 percent, both the fronts are confident that Piravom would favour them.The bypoll will be highly crucial for the nine-month-old Oommen Chandy Government which survives on a wafer-thin majority. The UDF pins its hopes on the increased polling percentage in panchayats like Chottanikkara and Piravom where it has an upper hand. However, an unexpected dip in poll percentage at Elanji, its stronghold, has come as a surprise. On the other hand, the LDF too has something to cheer. Heavy polling at Koothattukulam, where LDF reportedly has a strong support base, has been a morale booster for it. Thirumaradi panchayat, where both the fronts have a support base, will also play a crucial role. “We expect a majority of around 10,000 votes. Taking into consideration certain undercurrents on the last day, it may go down a little. However, a majority between 5,000-7,000 is assured,” beamed a confident Anoop Jacob. LDF’s M J Jacob said he has fought many elections and hence was not concerned about the results.
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