# 2019 Kerala Legislative Assembly by-elections

Six assembly by-elections were held on 23 September and 21 October 2019, to the six vacant seats in the Kerala Niyamasabha which consists of 140 constituencies in total.
By-election took place in two phases. The first phase was conducted on 23 September for Pala Constituency. The remaining 5 assembly constituencies (Manjeshwar, Ernakulam, Aroor, Konni and Vattiyoorkavu) voted to elect their representatives on 21 October. The counting of votes was conducted on 27 September in Pala and on 24 October in the other five constituencies.

## Schedule for the by-elections
### Pala

The first phase by-election was held for the Pala Constituency in Kerala.
| By-Election Event | Day | Date |
| Election Declaration | Sunday | 25/08/2019 |
| Issue of Gazette Notification | Wednesday | 28/08/2019 |
| Last date of filing Nomination | Wednesday | 04/09/2019 |
| Scrutiny of Nominations | Thursday | 05/09/2019 |
| Last date of withdrawal of candidatures | Saturday | 07/09/2019 |
| Polling | Monday | 23/09/2019 |
| Counting of votes | Friday | 27/09/2019 |

### Manjeshwaram, Ernakulam, Aroor, Konni and Vattiyoorkavu

The second phase by-elections were held for the remaining 5 vacant assembly constituencies in Kerala.
| By-Election Event | Day | Date |
| Election Declaration | Saturday | 21/09/2019 |
| Issue of Gazette Notification | Monday | 23/09/2019 |
| Last date of filing Nomination | Monday | 30/09/2019 |
| Scrutiny of Nominations | Tuesday | 01/10/2019 |
| Last date of withdrawal of candidatures | Thursday | 03/10/2019 |
| Polling | Monday | 21/10/2019 |
| Counting of votes | Thursday | 24/10/2019 |

## Electorates

There were 11,36,616 electorates from the 6 niyamasabha constituencies where the by-elections were held. Constituency wise details are given below:
| Number | Constituency | Electorates |
| 1 | Manjeshwar | 2,14,779 |
| 82 | Ernakulam | 1,55,306 |
| 93 | Pala | 1,79,107 |
| 102 | Aroor | 1,91,898 |
| 114 | Konni | 1,97,956 |
| 133 | Vattiyoorkavu | 1,97,570 |

## Alliances and parties

There are two major political coalitions in Kerala. The United Democratic Front (UDF) is the coalition of centrist and center-left parties led by the Indian National Congress. The Left Democratic Front (LDF) is the coalition of left-wing and far-left parties, led by the Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPI(M)).

### LDF

They are a coalition of left-wing political parties in Kerala. It is one of the two major political coalitions in the state, the other being the UDF, both of which has been in power alternatively for the last two decades. After winning a majority of the seats in the Niyamasabha elections, they are currently in power. The coalition consists of CPI(M), CPI and a variety of other smaller parties. LDF fields four CPI(M) candidates, an NCP candidate and an independent to fight in the by-poll.
| No. | Party | Leader | Seats contested | Male | Female |
| 1. | Communist Party of India (Marxist) | Kodiyeri Balakrishnan | Manjeshwaram Aroor, Konni, Vattiyoorkavu | 4 | 0 |
| 2. | Nationalist Congress Party | | Pala | 1 | 0 |
| 3. | LDF Independent | A. Vijayaraghavan | Ernakulam | 1 | 0 |

### UDF

It is an alliance of central-wing political parties in the state, created by the prominent INC party leader K. Karunakaran in the 1970s. UDF fielded four INC candidates, an IUML candidate and an independent for the vacant constituencies.
| No. | Party | Leader | Seats contested | Male | Female |
| 1. | Indian National Congress | Mullappally Ramachandran | Ernakulam, Aroor, Konni Vattiyoorkavu | 3 | 1 |
| 2. | Indian Union Muslim League | Sayed Hyderali Shihab Thangal | Manjeshwar | 1 | 0 |
| 3. | UDF Independent | Benny Behanan | Pala | 1 | 0 |

### NDA

It is a coalition of right-leaning political parties in India. NDA gave all the six seats for the BJP to contest.
| No. | Party | Flag | Symbol | Photo | Leader | Seats contested | Male | Female |
| 1. | Bharatiya Janata Party | | | | P. S Sreedharan Pillai | Manjeshwar, Ernakulam, Pala, Aroor, Konni Vattiyoorkavu | 6 | 0 |

## Constituency-wise Candidates

The LDF fielded four CPI(M) candidates, an NCP candidate and an independent to win the seats. UDF fielded four INC candidates, an IUML candidate and an independent. NDA fielded six BJP candidates.
| No. | Constituency | Candidates | Candidates | Candidates | Candidates | Candidates | Candidates |
| No. | Constituency | LDF  CPI(M) (4) NCP (1)  Independent (1) | LDF  CPI(M) (4) NCP (1)  Independent (1) | UDF  INC (4) IUML (1)  Independent (1) | UDF  INC (4) IUML (1)  Independent (1) | NDA  BJP (6) | NDA  BJP (6) |
| 1 | Manjeshwar | M. Shankara Rai | CPI(M) | M. C. Kamaruddin | IUML | Raveesh Thanthri Kuntar | BJP |
| 2 | Ernakulam | Manu Roy | Independent | T. J. Vinod | INC | C. G. Rajagopal | BJP |
| 3 | Pala | Mani C. Kappan | NCP | Jose Tom Pulikunnel | Independent | N. Hari | BJP |
| 4 | Aroor | Manu C. Pulikkal | CPI(M) | Shanimol Usman | INC | K. P. Prakash Babu | BJP |
| 5 | Konni | K. U. Jenish Kumar | CPI(M) | P. Mohanraj | INC | K. Surendran | BJP |
| 6 | Vattiyoorkavu | V. K. Prasanth | CPI(M) | K. Mohankumar | INC | S. Suresh | BJP |

## Exit Polls

The Manorama News and the Mathrubhumi News published their exit poll predictions in the constituencies where the election was held on 21 October 2019. Asianet News had published their exit poll predictions for Pala, where the election was held earlier.
| | Manorama - Karvy | Manorama - Karvy | Manorama - Karvy | Mathrubhumi- Geowide India | Mathrubhumi- Geowide India | Mathrubhumi- Geowide India | AZ Research - Asianet | AZ Research - Asianet | AZ Research - Asianet |
| Constituencies | | | | | | | | | |
| Constituencies | LDF | UDF | NDA | LDF | UDF | NDA | LDF | UDF | NDA |
| Manjeshwar | 31% | 36% | 31% | 21% | 40% | 37% | | | |
| Ernakulam | 30% | 55% | 12% | 39% | 44% | 15% | | | |
| Pala | | | | | | | 32% | 48% | 19% |
| Aroor | 44% | 43% | 11% | 44% | 43% | 11% | | | |
| Konni | 46% | 41% | 12% | 39% | 41% | 19% | | | |
| Vattiyoorkavu | 36% | 37% | 26% | 41% | 37% | 20% | | | |

## Polling day

Polling took place on 23 September 2019 in Pala and on 21 October 2019 in the remaining five Niyamasabha constituencies.
| Number | Constituency | Polling% |
| 1 | Manjeshwar | 75.78 |
| 82 | Ernakulam | 57.90 |
| 93 | Pala | 70.97 |
| 102 | Aroor | 80.47 |
| 114 | Konni | 70.07 |
| 133 | Vattiyoorkavu | 62.66 |

## Results in a glance

The results at a glance are given below:

### By alliance

Both the LDF and the UDF won three seats each. The NDA could not win any seats.
| | Alliance | Seats Contested | Seats Won | Seat Change | Vote % | Swing % |
| | UDF | 06 | 03 | 02 | 38.68 | 1.78 |
| | LDF | 06 | 03 | 02 | 37.97 | 1.53 |
| | NDA | 06 | 00 | 00 | 21.63 | 0.09 |
| Total | Total | 06 | | | | |

### Party-wise

Each of the CPI(M) and the INC won in two seats. The remaining two seats were bagged by the NCP and the IUML respectively.
| LDF | LDF | SEATS | UDF | UDF | SEATS | NDA | NDA | SEATS |
| CPI(M) | | 02 | INC | | 02 | BJP | | 00 |
| NCP | | 01 | IUML | | 01 | BJP | | 00 |
| LDF Independent | | 00 | UDF Independent | | 00 | BJP | | 00 |
| Total | Total | 03 | Total | Total | 03 | Total | Total | 00 |
| Change | Change | 02 | Change | Change | 02 | Change | Change | 00 |

### By district

| District | No. of constituencies | Winning party | Alliance |
| Kasaragod | 01 | IUML | UDF |
| Ernakulam | 01 | INC | UDF |
| Kottayam | 01 | NCP | LDF |
| Alappuzha | 01 | INC | UDF |
| Pathanamthitta | 01 | CPI(M) | LDF |
| Thiruvananthapuram | 01 | CPI(M) | LDF |
| Total | 06 | | |

### By constituency

| No. | Constituency | LDF candidate | Party | Votes | Votes | UDF candidate | Party | Votes | Votes | NDA candidate | Party | Votes | Votes | Winner | Margin | Margin | Alliance |
| 1 | Manjeshwar | M. Shankara Rai | CPI(M) | 38,233 | 23.49% | M. C. Kamaruddin | IUML | 65,407 | 40.19% | Raveesh Thanthri Kuntar | BJP | 57,484 | 35.32% | M. C. Kamaruddin | 7,923 | 4.87% | UDF |
| 82 | Ernakulam | Manu Roy | LDF | 34,141 | 37.96% | T. J. Vinod | INC | 37,891 | 42.13% | C. G. Rajagopal | BJP | 13,351 | 14.85% | T. J. Vinod | 3,750 | 4.17% | UDF |
| 93 | Pala | Mani C. Kappan | NCP | 54,137 | 42.55% | Jose Tom Pulikunnel | UDF | 51,194 | 40.24% | N. Hari | BJP | 18,044 | 14.18% | Mani C. Kappan | 2,943 | 2.31% | LDF |
| 102 | Aroor | Manu C. Pulikkal | CPI(M) | 67,277 | 43.54% | Shanimol Usman | INC | 69,356 | 44.88% | K. P. Prakash Babu | BJP | 16,289 | 10.54% | Shanimol Usman | 2,079 | 1.34% | UDF |
| 114 | Konni | K. U. Jenish Kumar | CPI(M) | 54,099 | 38.96% | P. Mohanraj | INC | 44,140 | 31.79% | K. Surendran | BJP | 39,786 | 28.65% | K. U. Jenish Kumar | 9,953 | 7.17% | LDF |
| 133 | Vattiyoorkavu | V. K. Prasanth | CPI(M) | 54,830 | 44.25% | K. Mohan Kumar | INC | 40,365 | 32.58% | S. Suresh | BJP | 27,453 | 22.16% | V. K. Prasanth | 14,465 | 11.67% | LDF |

## Detailed results
### 1. Manjeshwar

2019 Kerala Legislative Assembly by-elections : Manjeshwar :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | IUML | M. C. Kamaruddin | 65,407 | 40.19% | 4.40 |
| | BJP | Raveesh Thanthri Kuntar | 57,484 | 35.32% | 0.42 |
| | CPI(M) | M. Shankara Rai | 38,233 | 23.49% | 3.30 |
| | NOTA | None of the Above | 574 | 0.35% | 0.06 |
| | Independent | Govindan B. Alinthazhe | 337 | 0.21% | N/A |
| | Independent | John D. Souza | 277 | 0.17% | 0.04 |
| | Independent | Rajesh B. | 232 | 0.14% | N/A |
| | Independent | Kamarudheen M. C. | 211 | 0.13% | N/A |
| Margin of victory | Margin of victory | Margin of victory | 7,923 | 4.87% | 4.82 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 162,755 | 75.78% | 0.55 |
| | IUML hold | IUML hold | Swing | 4.40 | |

### 82. Ernakulam

2019 Kerala Legislative Assembly by-elections : Ernakulam :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | INC | T. J. Vinod | 37,891 | 42.13% | 10.19 |
| | LDF | Manu Roy | 34,141 | 37.96% | 5.50 |
| | BJP | C. G. Rajagopal | 13,351 | 14.85% | 1.39 |
| | Independent | Manu K. M. | 2,572 | 2.86% | N/A |
| | NOTA | None of the Above | 1,309 | 1.46% | 0.61 |
| | Independent | Vinod A. P. | 206 | 0.23% | N/A |
| | SFB | Abdul Khader | 175 | 0.19% | N/A |
| | Independent | Jaisen Thomas | 116 | 0.13% | N/A |
| | Independent | Bosco Louis | 93 | 0.10% | N/A |
| | Independent | Ashokan | 78 | 0.09% | N/A |
| Margin of victory | Margin of victory | Margin of victory | 3,750 | 4.17% | 15.69 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 89,932 | 57.91% | 13.81 |
| | INC hold | INC hold | Swing | 10.19 | |

### 93. Pala

2019 Kerala Legislative Assembly by-elections : Pala :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | NCP | Mani C. Kappan | 54,137 | 42.55% |
| | UDF | Jose Tom Pulikkunnel | 51,194 | 40.24% |
| | BJP | N. Hari | 18,044 | 14.18% |
| | Independent | C. J. Philip | 1,085 | 0.85% |
| | Independent | Maju Puthenkandam | 1,012 | 0.80% |
| | NOTA | None of the Above | 742 | 0.58% |
| | Independent | George Pooveli | 565 | 0.44% |
| | Independent | Tom Thomas | 303 | 0.24% |
| | Independent | Ignatious Illimoottil | 233 | 0.18% |
| | Independent | Joseph Jacob | 178 | 0.14% |
| | Independent | Babu Joseph | 130 | 0.10% |
| | Independent | Joemon Joseph Srampickal | 130 | 0.10% |
| | Independent | Joby Thomas | 112 | 0.09% |
| | Independent | Sunilkumar | 97 | 0.08% |
| Margin of victory | Margin of victory | Margin of victory | 2,943 | 2.31% |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 127,220 | 70.97% |
| | NCP gain from KC(M) | NCP gain from KC(M) | Swing | |

### 102. Aroor

2019 Kerala Legislative Assembly by-elections : Aroor :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | INC | Shanimol Usman | 69,356 | 44.88% | 16.34 |
| | CPI(M) | Manu C. Pulikkal | 67,277 | 43.54% | 8.80 |
| | BJP | K. P. Prakash Babu | 16,289 | 10.54% | N/A |
| | NOTA | None of the Above | 840 | 0.54% | 0.09 |
| | Independent | Geetha Asokan | 352 | 0.23% | N/A |
| | Independent | K. B. Sunil Kumar | 278 | 0.18% | N/A |
| | Independent | Alleppy Sugunan | 142 | 0.09% | N/A |
| Margin of victory | Margin of victory | Margin of victory | 2,079 | 1.34% | 22.46 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 154,534 | 80.47% | 5.36 |
| | INC gain from CPI(M) | INC gain from CPI(M) | Swing | 16.34 | |

### 114. Konni

2019 Kerala Legislative Assembly by-elections : Konni :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | CPI(M) | K. U. Jenish Kumar | 54,099 | 38.96% | 2.63 |
| | INC | P. Mohanraj | 44,146 | 31.79% | 19.02 |
| | BJP | K. Surendran | 39,786 | 28.65% | 16.99 |
| | NOTA | None of the Above | 469 | 0.34% | 0.01 |
| | Independent | Joemon Joseph Srampickal | 235 | 0.17% | N/A |
| | Independent | Sivanandan | 124 | 0.09% | N/A |
| Margin of victory | Margin of victory | Margin of victory | 9,953 | 7.17% | 7.31 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 138,859 | 70.07% | 2.92 |
| | CPI(M) gain from INC | CPI(M) gain from INC | Swing | 2.63 | |

### 133. Vattiyoorkavu

2019 Kerala Legislative Assembly by-elections: Vattiyoorkavu :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | CPI(M) | V. K. Prasanth | 54,830 | 44.25% | 14.46 |
| | INC | K. Mohankumar | 40,365 | 32.58% | 5.23 |
| | BJP | S. Suresh | 27,453 | 22.16% | 10.03 |
| | NOTA | None of the Above | 820 | 0.66% | 0.06 |
| | Independent | A.Mohanakumar | 135 | 0.11% | N/A |
| | Independent | Nagaraj G. | 100 | 0.08% | N/A |
| | Independent | Suresh S. S. | 93 | 0.08% | N/A |
| | Independent | Murukan A. | 76 | 0.06% | N/A |
| | Independent | Mithran G. | 38 | 0.03% | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 14,465 | 11.67% | 6.06 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 123,910 | 62.66% | 7.17 |
| | CPI(M) gain from INC | CPI(M) gain from INC | Swing | 14.46 | |

### List of the newly elected MLAs to the 14th Kerala Niyamasabha

As a result of the 2019 Kerala Legislative Assembly by-elections, six new members were elected to the Kerala Niyamasabha.
| Constituency | Member | Party | Alliance |
| Manjeshwar | M. C. Kamaruddin | IUML | UDF |
| Ernakulam | T. J. Vinod | INC | UDF |
| Pala | Mani C. Kappan | NCP | LDF |
| Aroor | Shanimol Usman | INC | UDF |
| Konni | K. U. Jenish Kumar | CPI(M) | LDF |
| Vattiyoorkavu | V. K. Prasanth | CPI(M) | LDF |

### Assembly seat share post by-elections

After the 2019 Kerala Legislative Assembly by-elections, the composition of 14th Kerala Legislative Assembly changed as per given below:
| UDF | LDF | NDA |
| 45 | 93 | 2 |
The Kerala Niyamasabha is composed of 141 seats (140 elected and 1 nominated). After the by-elections, the Government of Kerala has the support of 93 members.
Total (141)
Government (93)
* LDF (93)
** CPI(M) (60)
** CPI (19)
** JD(S) (3)
** NCP (3)
** C(S) (1)
** KC(B) (1)
** NSC (1)
** IND (5)
Opposition (47)
* UDF (45)
** INC (21)
** IUML (18)
** KC(M) (5)
** KC(J) (1)
* NDA (2)
** BJP (1)
** KJ(S) (1)
* Others(1)
** Nominated (1)