UDF has clear lead in southern districts: Antony

Kochi, Apr 24 : Congress Working Committee member and former Kerala Chief Minister A K Antony today said the United Democratic Front (UDF) had a definite edge over the Left Democratic Front (LDF) in at least four of the six districts that went to polls in the first phase on April 22.

Dismissing exit poll results that gave a lead to the LDF in 59 constituencies of the six southern districts that went to the polls, he told newspersons here that according to the UDF estimates, it had a clear advantage in Alappuzha, Pathanamthitta, Idukki and Kottayam.

Mr Antony said the wave of sympathy across party-lines for Leader of the Opposition V S Achuthanandan when denied a party ticket to contest the election, was now wearing off and people were rejecting his stance against development.

The ''immature'' statements of some Left leaders that their parties would reconsider support to the UPA after the polls was a sign of arrogance, he said.

''Their (the Left's) first option is to form a Third Front failing which they want to weaken the UPA Government and make it a puppet in their hands. This is dangerous not just for the secular forces but for the country as a whole,'' he said.

The only beneficiaries of such a move would be the BJP, Mr Antony added.

He said the UDF must be returned to power in Kerala to strengthen the UPA Government at the Centre and to stave off the 'anti-investment and anti-development'' LDF.

The former Chief Minister decried LDF opposition to the Kochi Smart City project saying it would have brought increased investment to the State and made it a premium IT destination.

''What Kerala now need is a continuity of governance and of development,'' he added.

UNI