Thiruvananthapuram: Actor-politician and BJP candidate Suresh Gopi has taken a lead of over 8,000 votes against his nearest rivals in the Thrissur Lok Sabha seat, according to preliminary data provided by the Election Commission.

Gopi has received over 56,000 votes so far and his nearest rivals are LDF's VS Sunilkumar who has received over 47,000 votes and Congress's K Muraleedharan at the third position with around 40,000 votes.

The actor had lost from Thrissur in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections and again in the 2021 state assembly elections.