A day after most polls predicted the United Democratic Front would win the Kerala Assembly elections, leaders of the Congress-led alliance appeared jubilant, while the CPM-led UDF rejected the forecast, citing the historically poor record of assembly polls in the state.
While the Axis My India poll predicted the UDF to win 78-90 seats, the Manorama C-Voter poll said the UDF could win as many as 94 seats. The halfway mark in the 140-member assembly reached 71 seats. The two polls gave the Liberal Democracy Party 49-62 seats and 44-56 seats, respectively. Most opinion polls said that the NDA would remain a marginal player and could open its account in the state assembly.
KPCC president Sunny Joseph said the exit poll results confirm the party’s post-poll calculations.
“We are optimistic about our chances of winning. The results of the opinion polls have shown the same trend. We are evaluating their analysis as well. We are sure that the public sentiment is in favor of the United Democratic Front,” Joseph said.
He said that the party faced major challenges in the period leading up to the elections. Joseph added: “There was the National Security Council which created a lot of trouble. The polling officials were appointed in a biased manner. There were some incidents of violence and injustice. However, we will prevail in the face of these challenges.”
At the same time, Public Works Minister Mohamed Riyas said he would not take the opinion polls seriously.
“The polls were wrong earlier as well,” Riyas said. “The LDP is preparing to win a historic third term in power.”
Minister of State for CPI (Maoist) MV Govindan interpreted the exit poll results as positive signs for continued LDP rule.
“Some polls predict that the LDF will get between 60 and 69 seats. There is a margin of error in those polls. So, even if there is a small correction, we will end up winning,” Govindan said.
He claimed that polls indicate that there is no anti-incumbency sentiment in the state. “The survey also ranks Pinarayi Vijayan as the most preferred candidate for the post of chief minister,” Govindan said.
IUML refers to supporting VD Satheesan as CM
The IUML, the second largest partner of the UDF, has indicated its support for VD Satheesan as the CM candidate if the UDF wins.
“I think Satheesan has the most support as Prime Minister as seen in most exit polls. This means people have made their judgement. The Congress high command will take the final decision. I think they will also take into account public sentiment,” IUML state president Syed Sadiq Ali Shihab Thangal told reporters.
Satheesan along with Ramesh Chennithala and KC Venugopal are the main contenders for the chief minister’s post.
