PKR retained the Bukit Selambau state seat with a slightly increased majority of 2,403 votes.
S. Manikumar polled 12,632 votes against Barisan Nasional's Datuk S. Ganesan's 10,229 votes. There were 415 spoilt votes.
All the 13 independent candidates lost their deposits as they failed to poll one-eighth of the ballots cast. Collectively they polled just 1,326 votes.
A scene at the Bukit Selambau by-election which ended with its much anticipated heated hue-cry from both sides of the supporters .
The Bukit Selambau by-election was called after incumbent and Kedah state executive councillor V. Arumugam resigned over morality issues.
A quick analysis of the votes showed that BN had gained some ground in rural areas of the constituency but fared badly in the urban polling stations in Sungai Petani.Some 12,000 of the seat's 35,140 voters reside in Sungai Petani town.
PKR, which began campaigning for this election high on confidence of retaining the seat with an increased majority, was somewhat subdued as polling neared as it had to deal with the "feel good effect" from Datuk Seri Najib Razak's assumption of the prime ministership.
Former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad's campaign sojourn here on Thursday also rattled PKR.
But PKR kept plodding on and repeatedly told voters that Kedah Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Azizan Abdul Razak had committed to appoint the winning candidate as an exco member.
Victorious Manikumar said he will work hard to justify voters' faith in him.
Manikumar is to be made Kedah Exco on april 19 after Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Azizan Abdul Razak sought consent today from the state ruler.
"I feel good and happy. Thank you to the Bukit Selambau voters for giving me the mandate to be their representative," he said,
Ganesan accepted the outcome."I will continue to serve the voters here. I will take a break for a while. It has been hectic," he said.
Crestfallen, MIC president Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu said that the Indian votes had improved significantly for BN.
"Even though we are disappointed, we accept the verdict. We will continue to work hard to gain the confidence of the Indian community and the people."
BN election director Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein said the coalition had to work harder to convince people that there is a change in the coalition's leadership and convince them of the positive impact it would bring.
"BN has taken note of the result and will rectify any shortcoming. PKR is the incumbent and it was expected to have the advantage over the BN."
State BN chief Datuk Seri Mahdzir Khalid said the coalition accepted the result and would continue to work for the people of Bukit Selambau.
PKR vice-president Azmin Ali said the PKR and PAS' win in Bukit Selambau and Bukit Gantang, respectively, brought a message to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak on the need for Umno and the Barisan Nasional to work hard to win the people's hearts
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