Piravom by-poll: VS writes to Election Commission

Tuesday, December 27, 2011: Opposition leader VS Achuthanandan today wrote a letter to Election Commission requesting not to delay the Assembly by-poll in Piravom Assembly segment, caused by the death of Kerala Congress leader T.M. Jacob.
The by-poll must be conducted before the festival seasons, VS added.
Jacob’s death has further narrowed down the UDF majority in the 140-member Assembly. According to political observers, if the UDF fails to retain Piravom, it could only shake the government.
Kerala Congress (J) has already announced Jacob’s son Anoop Jacob as the party’s nominee for the bye-election, date for which is yet to announced by the Election Commission.
The Congress, as lead partner, is unlikely to oppose the proposal expecting that the sympathy factor will help Anoop sail through smoothly, where his father had won by just 157 votes over his LDF rival in the April 13 Assembly elections.