Kozhikode/Kochi/T’puram: Chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan expressed confidence that LDF will win more seats than in 2021, while opposition leader V D Satheesan said UDF is set to secure over 100 seats. BJP state president Rajeev Chandrasekhar predicted a hung verdict, claiming BJP will emerge as a decisive force.Vijayan said attempts to create communal polarization will not influence people as the trust various sections have reposed in LDF cannot be broken by such propaganda. He said this while responding to media queries after casting his vote at RC Amala Basic UP School at Pinarayi in Kannur on alleged attempts by certain outfits to engineer communal polarization and consolidate Muslim minorities against LDF.Responding to allegations that organizations like Jamaat-e-Islami were attempting to create religious polarization, Vijayan said such efforts would fail. “We have always placed our trust in people and they have always trusted us. In 2021, the people gave us a much larger majority compared to 2016 as recognition of our performance. This time, they will give us even more seats. As part of LDF campaign, I visited 12 districts. I saw that all sections of society, including those targeted by such outfits, were standing with LDF,” he said.On the cash-for-vote row that shook BJP in Palakkad, Vijayan said such tactics will not affect Kerala’s politically-aware electorate. Commenting on his controversial “Dash mone Revantha” remark against Telangana CM Revanth Reddy, he said people can interpret what the word ‘Dash’ stands for. “He is the only CM who has been arrested in a corruption case,” he said.Satheesan exuded confidence that UDF will secure over 100 assembly seats. “My confidence stems from ground realities. I travelled the length and breadth of Kerala four times over the past three months. I felt the pulse of the people and there is an undeniable wave in favour of a change. UDF will win with a big margin after 2001 elections,” said Satheesan after casting his vote at Paravur Kesari College with his family. He had earlier said he would go into political exile if UDF failed to get 100 seats.While early projections suggested a close race, Satheesan claimed recent national surveys and ground-level shifts have strengthened UDF’s lead. He slammed ‘fabricated local surveys’ for lacking credibility and promised to address discrepancies once polling ended.He praised Kerala’s political consciousness, noting that even in rural tea shops, citizens discussed local governance and international affairs. He said UDF’s hopes rest on this informed electorate, which weighed the performance of the govt and the opposition before making its choice.Chandrasekhar said he expects a hung verdict as neither LDF nor UDF would get a clear majority. In that situation, BJP would emerge as a decisive force, he told reporters after casting his vote at Jawahar Nagar LP School in Vattiyoorkavu.“This is an opportunity for the people to decide the future of the land, its residents and their children. The vision and desire for a developed Kerala, as put forward by BJP-NDA, have reached the people,” said the NDA candidate in Nemom, adding that people will bring about significant change in this election.“We are asking for an opportunity from the people to not create ruckus in the assembly, to not break computers, to not perform Bharatanatyam on the speaker’s table but to resolve their problems. That is why we are contesting. Kerala needs to change. What hasn’t changed must change and Kerala must grow. I extend my wishes to all our candidates,” he said.
