The result of the September 23 byelection to Pala assembly constituency in Kerala will be declared on Friday with the outcome expected to be a litmus test for the ruling CPIM-led LDF after its rout in the Lok Sabha polls.
The bypoll is also seen as an acid test for opposition Congress-led UDF and the BJP-headed NDA as a victorywould give a boost to the three major combines prospects in the by-elections to five more assembly constituencies scheduled for October 21.
Officials said counting of votes would begin at 8 am on Friday and the result was expected around noon.
The by-election was necessitated by the death of former finance minister and Kerala Congress (M) supremo K M Mani, who had held the constituency for more than five decades.
Around 72 per cent of the 1.79 lakh voters have exercised their franchise in the by-election in which 13 candidates were in the fray.
In the 2016 elections, 77 per cent polling was recorded when Mani won by a margin of 4,703 votes against his rival Mani C Kappen of NCP.
The LDF has fielded Kappen as its candidate again while the UDF nominated Jose Tom Pulikkunnel of Kerala Congress.
BJP's Kottayam district president N Hari fought as the NDA candidate in the bypoll.
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