Kannur (Kerala) | Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, who was trailing in Dharmadom constituency till the sixth round of counting, has moved into the lead, according to TV reports.

However, Congress candidate V P Abdul Rasheed continues to put up a tough fight, with Vijayan leading by only around 1,500 votes while more than six rounds of counting remain.

Vijayan, the face of the LDF in the Assembly election, is seeking a mandate from Dharmadom for the third time.

Dharmadom is regarded as an LDF stronghold, and the close contest is seen as an unusual development for the CPI(M) in Kannur.

In the 2021 Assembly polls, Vijayan had won from Dharmadom with a margin of over 45,000 votes.

As per initial trends, the UDF appears to have a clear edge across Kerala, with several key LDF sitting MLAs and ministers trailing in different constituencies.