THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Congress in Kerala has suffered one of its worst-ever electoral defeats by winning only 22 seats, which may have far-reaching consequences for the party and the UDF in the state. Two UDF allies, the Revolutionary Socialist Party (B) and the Janata Dal (United), which had two legislators each in the outgoing House, came a cropper. Mr C. P. John of the CMP was defeated like in 2011.
Chief Minister Oommen Chandy, KPCC president V. M. Sudheeran and Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala have much to answer for the drubbing the party received. However, senior leader A. K. Antony had cautioned that UDF was in a bad shape due to the corruption charges. Congress leaders told DC that they would examine the failures in party forums. But they feel that corruption charges had damaged the party’s prospects.
“Ever since the solar scam broke out, the people were unhappy with the UDF Government. When the UDF went to town with its stand on prohibition, Oommen Chandy gave sanction to five more bars which boomeranged. Similarly, towards the fag end of his tenure, several corruption charges like Methran Kayal, paddy reclamation etc came to the limelight”, said a leader.
The failure in nabbing the killer of Jisha of Perumbavur had sent out a message that there was threat to the life and property of the people. It is said that there has been a Hindu consolidation against the UDF and that the BJP and the LDF had joined together.
Similarly, the Ezhava votes went in favour of the LDF in southern districts. Mr Sudheeran is also blamed for the ruckus he created during the candidate selection. Mr K. Muraleedharan who has won from Vattiyoorkavu criticised Mr Sudheeran citing that his decision to flag corruption as a topic of discussion during the election time was the reason for the UDF’s defeat.
Similarly, Mr K. Babu who lost in Trippunithura also flayed Mr Sudheeran for his stand on corruption. A top AICC leader told DC that the central leadership was disappointed with the UDF’s performance. AICC general secretary in charge of the state, Mukul Wasnik said AICC had expected the Congress to perform much better.
