Despite having a storm of bad press in the last six months, the CPM-led Left Democratic Front (LDF) has emerged with flying colours in the just-concluded Kerala local body polls. Throughout the campaigns the CPM leaders exhibited confidence that none of the false allegations would affect the LDF in the elections and the results have proved them precise.
During his 50-minute victory speech on Wednesday, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has stressed his party’s developmental activities and social security benefits, especially the free ration kits distributed in the aftermath of pandemic, marking LDF as sole secular party in Kerala.
Pinarayi Vijayan said, “The elections have yet again proved that BJP has no space in Kerala. Their claims have once again been shattered. We know what they had said about Thiruvananthapuram and what have eventually happened.”
He attacked the UDF and stressed their alliance with Jamaat-e-Islami’s Welfare party. The CM said, “At least now, please think about what you have done. They have a soft line with BJP and then holds hands with extreme Muslim elements (a reference to the alliance of Congress with Jamaat-e-Islami’s Welfare party)”
He even went on to give some credit to Jose K Mani for his historic win in Pala and Kottayam. He said that it is just because of the pro-LDF support that helped him and asked, “Or else why would the LDF win in areas like Kottayam, Pala and Idukki where Jose K Mani has no much influence.”
Overcoming a slew of political controversies that shocked the state in last few months, the LDF was able to bag 10 district panchayats and 108 block panchayats in the Kerala local body polls. Now, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan will be able to contest the upcoming Assembly elections with double confidence and strength.
