Shock defeat for PM Sayeed from Lakshadweep

The election results turned out to be an unpleasant birthday gift for Deputy Speaker of the 13th Lok Sabha, PM Sayeed, who had to taste defeat for the first time from the Lakshadweep parliamentary constituency.

The election results turned out to be an unpleasant birthday gift for Deputy Speaker of the 13th Lok Sabha PM Sayeed, who had to taste defeat for the first time from the Lakshadweep parliamentary constituency.

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Lakshadweep is a traditional Congress citadel.

Sayeed, who has been representing the seat since 1967 was hoping for a 11th consecutive term to the lower house when his dream was shattered by Janata Dal (United) candidate, Dr Pookunji Koya, a medical practitioner from the islands, who was making his electoral and poll debut this time.

Sixty two year-old Sayeed had celebrated his birthday on May 10, the polling day.

Koya had given up his government job to take on the veteran Congress leader and surprising everyone, Koya defeated Sayeed by a narrow margin of 71 votes.

In the first general elections in 1967, Sayeed, who hails from Androth island, had contested on a Congress ticket and won by a margin of 386 votes and had emerged victorious in all subsequent elections.

The constituency comprising over 10 inhabited islands had recorded a polling percentage of 81.60, the highest in the country in this election.

A total of 15,248 (76.84 per cent) male voters and 16,566 (86.53 per cent) female voters had cast their franchise, with the highest polling percentage being recorded at Agatti (92 per cent) and the lowest at Minicoy (64.4 per cent).

The strength of the electorate is 38,990, of which 19,145 are women.