Sushmita Dutta
Lakshadweep, earlier known as the Laccadive, Minicoy and Amindivi Islands are a group of islands which are located 200-450 km off the South Western coast of India. The Lok Sabha seat from this island is reserved for Scheduled Tribes.
In the past, Indian National Congress and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) have been the major parties contesting the polls here. From 1967 till 1999, Congress leader PM Sayeed has been winning from Lakshadweep without a single loss.
In 2004, Janatal Dal (United) candidate, Dr P Pookhunhikoya won the seat. In 2009, Congress candidate Hamidullah Sayeed won the polls in the only Lok Sabha seat from this UT.
For the first time CPI has also fielded a candidate, CT Najmudheen, from the island.
The voter turnout of the small UT of Lakshadweep has made sure that the country broke every record of voting. People came out in huge numbers taking the voter turnout in this island to a whopping 86.8%.
