LDF victory further weakens UDF: Pinarayi

Thiruvananthapuram, Dec 7 (UNI) CPI(M) Kerala Secretary Pinarayi Vijayan today said the verdict of the Thiruvambadi Assembly byelection, in which the ruling Left Democratic Front won, would further weaken the Congress-led United Democratic Front.

Addressing Mediapersons here, Mr Vijayan said unlike the previous occasion, the UDF fought the election this time as a united house.

In this situation, the verdict would have serious consequences on the opposition combine, he added.

He said though the victory margin had come down, there was an increase of 3,000 votes for the LDF candidate this time. This was achieved in spite of the campaign unleashed by the UDF that the ruling combine was against the minorities.

He said the six month rule of the LDF was able to create a good impression among the public, as it was evident from the front's victory in the traditional UDF constitueny, dominated by minority community members.

He openly acknowledged the role of veteran leader K Karunakaran who campaigned for the LDF candidate. The workers of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), in which Mr Karunakaran's erstwhile party Democratic Indira Congress merged, had actively participated in the election work, he added.

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