Darrell Dexter lost long-held seat by 21 votes

The tight race between NDP Premier Darrell Dexter and the Liberal competitor that took his Halifax-area seat in the Nova Scotia election was even closer than initially thought.

Elections Nova Scotia said Dexter lost his seat in Cole Harbour-Portland Valley to little-known Liberal Tony Ince by 21 votes, not the 31 originally reported on election night Tuesday.

The agency updated the numbers following an official recount Thursday in all returning offices.

Elections Nova Scotia said the deadline to request a judicial recount of the results is next Tuesday.

Dexter has represented the area in the legislature for 15 years.

No one from his campaign could be reached for comment.

The 56-year-old Dexter saw his party, which went into the election with a healthy majority, reduced to just seven seats.

The Liberals won 33 seats in the 51-seat legislature, while the Progressive Conservatives took 11.