By-elections for the assembly seat of Chengannur will take place on Monday, May 28. Chengannur is a municipal town in the Alappuzha district of the state of Kerala. The by-election for the assembly seat has become a triangular contest between the Left Democratic Front (LDF) led by Communist Party of India (Marxist), the Congress which helms the United Democratic Front and the Bhartiya Janata Party which sees this seat as an opportunity to get a foothold in what has so far been an extremely elusive state for the saffron party.

Date of voting & results: The voting for the Chengannur assembly seat is scheduled to take place on Monday, May 28. The results for the same will be announced on Thursday, May 31.

Last Result: Advocate KK Ramachandran Nair of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPI-M) had won the seat in Kerala Legislative Assembly election, 2016.

Reason for bypoll: The sitting MLA from the Chengannur seat, Advocate KK Ramachandran Nair of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPI-M) passed away on 14 January, 2018 after undergoing treatment for liver disease. The seat has been lying vacant since the passing away of the MLA.

Candidates in Fray: The important candidates to look for in the assembly elections from the Chengannur seat are Saji Cherian of CPI (M) who will want to retain the seat. The Congress has fielded D Vijayakumar who seems to be a prominent challenge. The BJP has fielded PS Sreedharan Pillai from the constituency to take them home.

Encouraged by the Karnataka assembly elections where the BJP could not pass rather, didn't even face the majority test, Congress leaders in the state have been insisting that it is a battle between the CPI (M) and the Congress. However, the BJP cannot be ignored and experts claim that it is a three way race for the seat. However, the CPI (M) seems confident of winning and retaining the seat.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on May 27, 2018 09:20 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).