Reacting to the Kerala bypoll results, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Thursday said that the bypolls were a rude shock to the United Democratic Front which viewed the 5 constituencies as unsurmountable fortresses.
The CM also pointed out that the LDF's seat share has increased from 91 to 93 from 2016. The bypolls show that the LDF's vote share has improved consistently.
The Congress-led UDF tasted defeat at the hands of the ruling LDF headed by the CPI-M in its strongholds of Vattiyoorkavu and Konni, while it retained two seats and won from the marxist bastion of Aroor in the October 21 bypolls to five assembly seats in Kerala
Among the five constituencies, only Aroor was an LDF constituency. The Vattiyoorkavu, Konni wins coupled with victory in the Pala elections helped the LDF in raising the number of seats.
Hinting at the Nair Service Society's open support of the UDF camp, the CM also added that the elections indicated that caste-based politics do not work in the state.
The chief minister also lauded the victory of V K Prasanth in Vattiyoorkavu. The erstwhile mayor had managed to secure a margin of over 14,000 votes in a constituency which always voted for a Congress legislator since its formation.
He also expressed satisfaction in P U Janeesh Kumar's lead of 9953 votes in Konni. Pinarayi added that the UDF victory in other constituencies were not as big as perceived as their victory margin had diminished.
Pinarayi said that the BJP's communal agenda was defeated in these elections.
Meanwhile, opposition leader Ramesh Chennithala said that the bypoll results showcased the strong sentiments against the ruling party. The fact that the BJP could not secure even a single seat was encouranging.
Chennithala highlighted that the victory in Aroor was an important one as it had been an LDF stronghold.
The Congress leader added that the party would consider the loss of Vattiyoorkavu and Konni seriously.
The CPI (M) state secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan said that the bypoll verdict showed that the people of Kerala were above casteist divisions and highlighted that BJP and RSS had no place in the state.
The UDF's Shanimol Usman who won the Aroor assembly constituency by 2,079 votes said that she was greatful to the UDF and the people of Aroor for the victory. She added that the united efforts of the Congress workers helped in securing a win in the LDF bastion.
