KANNUR: With the ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF) appearing ready to form the government in Kerala again, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan appealed to the supporters to not celebrate the victory and continue the fight against Covid-19.
“Kerala has given a verdict in favour of the LDF. But this is not the time to celebrate with great joy as Covid-19 continues to spread. This is the time to continue the fight against Covid-19. Kerala today reported 31,950 new Covid-19 cases and 49 deaths,” said Vijayan while addressing the media in his Assembly constituency seat Dharmadam, from where he has also won.
Meanwhile, taking to Twitter, the Chief Minister exhorted the people of Kerala to come together more than ever before, to tackle the Covid-19 pandemic and to take the state forward in the path of development, welfare and secularism.
In view of a surge in Covid-19 infections, the Election Commission earlier on Sunday wrote to Chief Secretaries of all states and Union Territories and heads of political parties to prohibit victory celebrations where the counting of votes was underway and demanded strict compliance of directions.
The counting of votes for the 140-member assembly began at 8 am on Sunday. The polling in Kerala had been held in a single phase on April 6.
Vijayan also took a dig at the BJP’s claims about forming a government in Kerala and said, “Top BJP leaders had announced that they were moving towards forming a government. At that point, we were told that their current account here would be closed in this election. BJP leaders, including the PM, Home Minister and Chief Ministers, had come here to campaign.”
Meanwhile, CPI (M) leader Kodiyeri Balakrishnan called LDF’s lead in the polls as the “victory of people”. “The people’s mandate proves that they are happy with the pro-people policies of the LDF government. It is a victory of people. Prime Minister Modi with half a dozen ministers campaigned here but they even lost the one seat they had. People here have defeated communal forces,” said Balakrishnan.
The exit polls had predicted the LDF retaining power in Kerala. As counting progressed on Sunday, the ruling LDF appeared poised to form the government in Kerala again. As per the latest trends from the Election Commission, the Communist Party of India (Marxist) was registering a win on 62 seats.
Among other constituents of the LDF, CPI won 17 seats, Kerala Congress (M) won 5 seats, NCP and Janata Dal (Secular) were leading on two seats each and Janadhipathya Kerala Congress leading on one seat. (ANI)
Former General Secretary of CPI (M) and senior party leader Prakash Karat on Sunday in an exclusive interview with ANI said, “I extend greetings to the people of Kerala who have created history by electing the LDF government once again to power.” Karat also said that this victory is significant because no other government has been re-formed for 40 years.
Kerala has been seeing the Left Democratic Front (LDF) and United Democratic Front (UDF) alternatively coming to power for nearly four decades. With LDF bunking the trend under the leadership of Vijayan, it is scripting history.
(With ANI inputs)