T’puram: Opposition leader Pinarayi Vijayan said the results of local-body bypolls were a resounding response from voters to those who had mocked LDF, claiming that the front had been washed away in the previous assembly elections. “The results reaffirm that Kerala will continue to embrace the Left, which stands with the people and works for them without losing heart in times of crisis,” he said.LDF’s emphatic win was secured due to the efforts of its workers, who overcame sustained misinformation campaigns by right-wing media outlets and political opponents. This public confidence will give LDF the energy to work among the people with renewed vigour, he added.Vijayan claimed the results reflect the erosion of support for UDF, barely four months after assuming office. People are realising through experience that, instead of bringing development, govt was destroying the progress the state achieved, he alleged.Power cuts, which were absent for a decade, are back, while health sector is sliding into decline. Social-welfare measures and LIFE projects are in disarray and infra projects, including those under KIIFB, have been abandoned, he alleged.He accused CM and his ministers of misusing their positions through sponsorships from industrialists and power brokers. “Govt failed to provide relief to victims of natural disasters. By handing out concessions to big corporations and the liquor lobby and by acting as an executor of Sangh Parivar’s agenda, govt is steadily degrading itself. The results reflect the people’s growing anger and distrust,” he alleged, adding that in areas where UDF had a clear advantage in the previous local-body polls, LDF put up an impressive show.LDF wrested seven seats, including the sitting seats of two UDF MLAs. Voters strongly rallied behind LDF in areas represented by UDF MLAs, including Thrikkodithanam Division of Kottayam District Panchayat and Paruthikkavu ward of Chittur Municipality. UDF’s majority declined in wards where MLAs from Mananthavady, Adoor, Perambra, Tripunithura and Vamanapuram had won, he said.
