Counting will be conducted in 19 rounds across 263 polling stations using 14 tables for EVM votes, four for other ballots, and one for ETPBS pre-counting.
Published Jun 23, 2025 | 9:01 AM ⚊ Updated Jun 23, 2025 | 2:47 PM
UDF workers lifting their candidate Aryadan Shoukath.
Synopsis: The counting of votes is underway in the Nilambur Assembly constituency in Kerala at Mar Thoma HSS, Chungathara.
After the counting of votes in the Nilambur Assembly constituency in Kerala on Monday, 23 June, following the by-election held there on 19 June, UDF’s Aryadan Shoukath (Congress) won with a majority of 11,077 votes.
The counting began at 8 am at Mar Thoma HSS Chungathara.
According to the Election Commission (EC), Shoukath secured 77,737 votes, while LDF’s M Swaraj managed 66,660 votes. Independent candidate PV Anvar finished third with 19,760 votes, followed by BJP’s Mohan George, who polled 8,648 votes.
The by-poll witnessed a keen contest between the Congress-led UDF and the CPI(M)-led LDF, but Shoukath maintained a steady lead through all 19 rounds of counting.
With this win, the Congress has retained its stronghold in Nilambur, delivering a significant setback to the CPI(M) which had fielded senior leader and former MLA Swaraj in a bid to reclaim the seat.
The high-stakes by-election to the Nilambur Assembly seat was necessitated by the resignation of Anvar in January. The by-election saw brisk polling on 19 June, with a voter turnout of 75.27 percent, edging past the 75.23 percent turnout in the 2021 Assembly polls — a marginal but noteworthy increase that reflects the high-octane clash that the constituency witnessed. Of the 2.32 lakh voters in the Constituency, 1.74 lakh voters cast their votes.
A total of 1,76,070 votes (75.87%) were cast. Of these, 1,74,667 were through EVMs and 1,403 by other methods, including votes from senior citizens, differently abled persons, service voters, and those at facilitation centres.
Counting will be conducted in 19 rounds across 263 polling stations using 14 tables for EVM votes, four for other ballots, and one for ETPBS pre-counting. The process began with postal ballots.
A total of 86 officials, including micro observers, counting supervisors, assistants, and returning officers, will manage the count. VVPAT slips from five randomly selected polling stations per round will be verified. Strict three-tier security is in place. Only candidates and their agents are allowed inside the centre.
Collector and Election Officer VR Vinod confirmed full surveillance and monitoring by EC observers.
(With inputs from Dileep V Kumar and Sreelakshmi Soman)
