Martin Pakula on track to win Lyndhurst by-election Martin Pakula meets campaign worker Charlie Mizzi at Keysborough Primary School. LABOR MP Martin Pakula has claimed victory after voting showed he was on track to win the state seat of Lyndhurst. There was a large swing against Labor's primary vote, but because the Coalition did not stand a candidate, the ALP was able to coast to victory. The result will leave rogue Independent MP Geoff Shaw with the balance of power in Parliament. Mr Pakula was handing out campaign material in Springvale South this morning as he sought to take the south-east Melbourne seat vacated by his former colleague Tim Holding. Victory at the by-election would see him enter the Legislative Assembly with 42 other Labor MPs and with 43 Coalition MPs who vote on the floor of the Assembly. Mr Shaw, who is now an Independent MP for Frankston after abandoning the Parliamentary Liberal Party last month, holds the crucial casting vote. The other MP in the 88-member Assembly, Coalition MP Speaker Ken Smith, only votes in the event of a tie - for example if Mr Shaw abstained from voting or if an MP was absent. Opposition Leader Daniel Andrews said Victorians had a right to be "very concerned" about Mr Shaw's powerful position, if Mr Pakula was successful in his by-election bid. "Every Bill, every measure, every thing, that (Premier) Denis Napthine wants to do will have to be first met with the approval of the rorting member for Frankston," he said. That is just a continuation of the circus that passes for government in this state. Dr Napthine has said he expected Mr Shaw to pass key Bills on supply and confidence, such as next month's Budget, but has no written agreement with the MP Mr Andrews did not rule out discussing issues with Mr Shaw, who earlier this month voted against the Coalition on an Adoption Bill amendment. "But I wouldn't characterise those discussions as talks towards securing his support now or into the future," he said. There's not much in common between our world view and his. Mr Pakula, who would regain his roles as Shadow Attorney-General, and opposition spokesman on Scrutiny of Government and Gaming and Racing, said he had not taken the by-election for granted. He said if he was elected he would speak up for local residents' concerns about TAFE cuts, manufacturing, and about health.