Chandy hopeful of UDF returning to power

Thiruvananthapuram, May 3 : Exuding confidence, Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy today said he had no doubt that the people of the state would positively respond to the development agenda of the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) and elect it back to power.

Returning from a month-long electioneering in the three-phased Assembly polls, which concluded today, he said at a Meet-the-Press programme here that the UDF had succeeded in highlighting the issue of development of the state during the campaign.

Mr Chandy claimed that the UDF had been able to raise the state from the economic slump and achieve an economic growth of 9.2 per cent during its five-year term.

Stating that the CPI(M)-led Left Democratic Front (UDF) had no vital issues to be raised in the campaign, he alleged that it tried to exploit communal sentiments throughout the campaign. The LDF had no hesitation in accepting the support of the People's Democratic Party of Mr Abdul Nasser Madani, the Jamaat-e-Islami and the Indian National League which it considered as communal outfits, he added.

Mr Chandy declined to give a direct answer to a question about the future of the UDF's tie-up with the Democratic Indira Congress (Karunakaran).

Replying to another question, he said agreement with the Dubai Internet City would be signed to set up the Smart City project in Kochi if the UDF returned to power.

UNI