Kerala continued it’s tradition of anti-incumbency by voting in the Left Democratic Front. The Left won by a whopping 91 seats with the United Democratic Front trailing behind with 47 seats.
The results were in line with the exit polls which had predicted that the Left will slide into power easily with over 80 seats.
CPI(M) leader Prakash Karat said that the party will hold a meeting in Thiruvananthapuram on 20 May to decide who will succeed Oomen Chandy as Kerala’s next Chief Minister. Party veteran VS Achuthanandan and politburo member Pinarayi Vijayan are the biggest contenders for the post.
CPI(M) General Secretary Sitaram Yechury is also slated to visit Kerala to partake in the decision-making process.
BJP President Amit Shah expressed his happiness over the party opening its account in the state with O Rajagopal’s win at Tiruvanthapuram.
Violent clashes marred the day, with reports of one man being killed and several others injured in two separate bomb explosions in LDF victory rallies in Kannur district.
BJP Polluted the Social and Political Situation: CPI General Secretary
CPI General Secretary Suravaram Sudhakar Reddy commented on the Left’s landslide victory down south saying that the results exceeded his expectations. He accused the BJP of polluting the social and political situation in Kerala by spending huge amounts of money.
Ninety one seats is quite unexpected, rarely does Kerala give such type of a verdict. In fact, Congress, Muslim League and Kerala Congress groups (UDF) is a formidable alliance in Kerala.
On BJP opening its account in Kerala, he said that it does not make much of a difference.
Oomen Chandy To Resign
Chief Minister Oomen Chandy will submit his resignation at 10 am 20 May to the Governor, reported ANI.
Kanhaiya’s College-mate Mohsin Wins First Election
Kanhaiya Kumar’s college mate and CPI candidate Mohammed Mohsin registered a win from Pattambi constituency in Palakkad in his maiden electoral battle reports PTI.
JNU Student Union President Kanhaiya had campaigned for his friend, who grabbed the seat from the sitting Congress MLA CP Mohammed.