Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI(M)] State secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan has exuded confidence that the Left Democratic Front (LDF) will win 18 seats in the Lok Sabha election and reiterated that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) will not open its account in the State.
Briefing reporters about the deliberations of the CPI(M) State secretariat meeting held here on Friday, Mr. Balakrishnan said the outcome would be a virtual repeat of the 2004 results in which the LDF had won 18 seats.
The high voter turnout did not disturb the LDF, as it was a similar situation in 2004 too. The minority consolidation would work to the advantage of the LDF, while there was a split in majority votes. Even a section of voters that was earlier opposed to the LDF has voted for the front. A similar minority concentration in 2004 had given the LDF 18 seats. The high voter awareness as well as the poll revision from time to time had also contributed to the increased turnout, he said.
The Nair Service Society (NSS) stuck to its equidistant stance till the end. The BJP and the United Democratic Front (UDF) were involved in vote-trading, but it would not impact the LDF prospects since the front had exposed the plan. “The LDF had revealed the deal struck for vote-trading between the UDF and the BJP and hence we will overcome it,” Mr. Balakrishnan said.
The vote-share of the BJP would be higher than what it got in 2014, but it would not win any seat in this election too. The LDF was not opposed to raising the Sabarimala issue, since it was a Supreme Court verdict. The arguments raised in favour and against the issue did not go against the LDF, he said.
The BJP was dismayed over the voter turnout and would only draw a blank, he said.