<span style="color: #222222;">In the bypoll held today in Kerala for one vacant Rajya Sabha seat, M V Shreyams Kumar of the Loktantrik Janata Dal (LJD), an ally of the ruling Left Democratic Front, sailed to victory.</span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;"> </span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">He defeated Congress rival Lal Varghese Kalpakavady by 37 votes. While Mr Kumar bagged 88 votes, Mr Varghese got 41. One vote was declared invalid.</span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;"> </span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">A two-time legislator, Shreyams Kumar won the Rajya Sabha seat held by his late father, M P Veerendra Kumar. The death of the 83-year veteran leader on May 28 had necessitated the bypoll.</span><br />''