CPM fears split in anti-govt votes

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: On the eve of the counting of crucial Aruvikkara bypoll, CPM state secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishanan hinted at the possibility of UDF gaining because of the split in anti Government votes.

At a press conference here, the CPM state secretary said the anti- government sentiments prevailed widely in the constituency.

But the vote against the government would go not just to the LDF but also to other political parties in the fray including the BJP which had tried to exploit the situation.

Kodiyeri said in the last Assembly elections the BJP had secured 7000 plus votes but this time around it is expected increase the tally. Had the BJP not put up a formidable candidate like O Rajagopal, the UDF would have suffered a huge defeat, he said.

The CPM leader said the situation that emerged in Aruvikkara had never happened in the past. “We will have to sit and evaluate this phenomenon to ensure that it does not recur in future,” he said but claimed that there was no place for third force in state's bipolar politics.

Kodiyeri said the BJP had unleashed a campaign in the constituency claiming that it would secure the second place.  

According to CPM analysis the BJP might get 25,000 votes. The BJP tried to ensure that all anti Government votes did not end up in LDF kitty. 

“The BJP campaign was aimed at helping the UDF,” Kodiyeri said but refuted reports that a section of LDF votes would go to Rajagopal.

“Our votes will never go to the BJP though they tried to confuse the voters including Left supporters and sympathisers through their high voltage campaign about coming second,” Kodiyeri said and claimed that the LDF would overcome all these factors as it had managed to garner all its votes. He expressed the confidence that M Vijayakumar would emerge winner.

While the state leadership of the BJP has claimed that it would secure over 40,000 votes, the LDF believes that the claim is exaggerated.

The Left camp says the BJP will win a maximum of 20,000 to 25,000 votes which would be about 10,000 plus votes more that what Girijakumari polled in 2014 Lok Sabha polls.