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Uma Thomas was the unanimous choice of the faction-ridden Congress in Kerala when the Election Commission of India announced on May 2 that the byelection in Thrikkakara Assembly constituency in Ernakulam would be held on May 31. Within 24 hours of the declaration of the byelection, the Congress announced its candidate.
The constituency, a traditional Congress stronghold, was twice represented by P.T. Thomas, her husband and senior Congress leader. The byelection was necessitated following his death on December 22, 2021. As the votes were counted on June 3, Ms. Thomas emerged as a giant killer with a record victory margin of 25,016 votes against the Left candidate, Jo Joseph. The Left Democratic Front, which has 99 members in the 140-member Assembly, had run a high-octane campaign seeking to “hit century”. But Ms. Thomas had the last laugh.
