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Piravom Assemby by poll crucial for Chandy Government
The March 18 by-election to the Kerala Assembly from Privavom segment is going to be the first major trial for the Congress-led UDF ministry headed by Oommen Chandy after it came to power with a slender majority of 72 seats in the 140-member House in May last year.
The date for the by-poll, necessitated by the death of Kerala Congress (J) leader T M Jacob, who was Food Minister, was declared by the Election Commission yesterday.
Death of Jacob in October had further eroded the elected strength of the UDF in the assembly to 71 including the Speaker against 68 seats held by the CPI(M)-led LDF opposition.
Well before the poll date was declared, both the UDF and the LDF have announced their candidates and have begun silent campaign in the sprawling segment in Ernakulam district.
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