CPM hoping for a repeat of 2005

Kozhikode: CPM district secretary P. Mohanan Master hopes the three-tier panchayat elections to be a repeat of 2005. Others say they would buck the trend.

Participating in a programme at the press club here, Mr Mohanan also denied reports of the party reaching an alliance with the Welfare Party.

He said it had only some local adjustments with individuals and UDF rebels.

"In 2005, the LDF won 69 out of 78 panchayats apart from all blocks, municipalities, the district panchayat and the city corporation," he said.

"Similar results are awaiting LDF this time." District Congress president K.C. Abu and IUML district president Ummer Pandikasala said the UDF would come to power in the corporation which they lost last time between the cup and the lip.

"If you see the statistics, every election, the UDF is improving. This time we are going to win a majority of panchayats and all municipalities and the corporation," Mr Abu said.

"People are fed up with the 40 years of LDF rule. Whatever development work done in the city are by the IAS officers. CPM is interested only in corruption and that's why 13 vigilance cases are pending against former mayor Bhaskaran and seven against deputy mayor Abdul Latheef."

BJP district president P. Raghunath said both fronts had conceded failure to deliver. "With the help of many welfare schemes, the Modi government has made an impact. That will help us in elections," he said.