Thiruvananthapuram: Former MP M.B. Rajesh said he was flooded with regret messages from voters of his constituency following the shock defeat in the Lok Sabha polls.
The former MP said the media hype and opposition campaign had created an impression that the Rahul Gandhi-led Congress was giving a tough fight to Narendra Modi at the Centre. With the Congress getting trounced badly at the national level, many voters feel that their vote had gone waste.
"I can tell you from my personal experience that there was a deluge of regret letters, telephone calls, messages on social media and micro texting sites from a cross section of people. Many of the supporters and sympathisers of Congress and Muslim League called me. They said I should not have lost the polls. People like me, Sampath , Rajeev and Balagopal should have been in Parliament. Most of them said they got influenced by the propaganda that Rahul Gandhi was set to become the prime minister and Congress-BJP were pitted against each other in a direct fight. They feel let down now," he added.
Unlike 2004 when the Left had Tripura, West Bengal and it led the anti-BJP coalition at the Centre, this time around the national role of the Left was limited.
All those who wanted Modi to go thought Congress was a viable and better option. These sections are now disappointed.
Mr Rajesh admits that the political situation in the country had changed drastically. Taking on Modi brand of communal politics is a tough call.
"It is not only a challenge but also an opportunity. In Kerala the Left has a traditional support base and it is an advantage for us. We need to strengthen that base and regain the lost support," Mr Rajesh added.
