The CPI (M) named Pinarai Vijayan for the Chief Ministership of Kerala on Friday.
CPI (M) general secretary Sitaram Yechuri told a media conference after a meeting of the State Secretariat and State Committee here that the party had taken a decision to propose Mr. Vijayan as the Chief Minister.

Noting that veteran leader V. S. Achuthanandan led the election campaign from the front, the general secretary said that Mr. Achuthanandan was not chosen to head the government considering his age and physical limitations.

The Left Democratic Front (LDF) has stormed to power in Kerala winning nearly two thirds of the seats in the Kerala Assembly elections.

The LDF won 91 seats and the Congress-led United Democratic Front 47 seats in the 140-member Assembly.

The BJP opened account for the first time in the State with former Union Minister of State O. Rajagopal winning from Nemom constituency. The BJP-led National Democratic Front was runner up in seven other constituencies.

Former UDF Chief Whip P. C. George won from Poonjar fighting the three fronts as an independent. His margin is as high as 27821 where as his nearest opponent Georgekutty Augusty (UDF) could poll only 35800 votes. Of the four film actors who contested, Mukesh won in Kollam while Jagdeesh and Bhimen Ragu were defeated by K. B. Ganesh Kumar.  Television anchor Veena George won while M. V. Nikeshkumar lost. (updated story)

Thiruvananthapuram: The counting of votes polled in the Kerala Assembly elections held on Monday will begin at 8 am on Thursday.

The first results will be available after about two hours. However, leads will be available from 8.15 am. The first votes to be counted are the postal votes.

Thiruvananthapuram: Women have voted in larger proportion than men in the Kerala Assembly elections. The turnout of men was 76.33 per cent while that of women was 78.29 per cent in the State.