Sunday, May 15, 2011

Voting shows communal polarization – ToI – 14.5.11


Kochi: The voting patterns in Kerala polls displayed a communal polarisatiton across the state the minorities consolidating behind the UDF and the Hindu areas going with the Left.
    The Congress and allies won maximum seats in Muslim-dominated Malappuram and Christian belts such as Ernakulam and Kottayam districts while the CPM and allies won in Kannur, Kozhikode, Palakkad, Alappuzha and Thiruvananthapuram. However, the UDF could not perform well in Thrissur which has a significant Christian population. Congress suffered setbacks in Idukki and Alappuzha where it was expected to fare better.
    “We will sit in the Opposition,” VS said, adding that the Left would not engage in horse-trading or enter into opportunistic alliances to unseat the government. VS also blamed the UDF for stirring communal passions and taking support of communal outfits. Party state secretary Pinarayi Vijayan too echoed the view and said the Left Front would accept the people’s verdict.
    “We expected more numbers as we had performed well in the Lok Sabha and local body polls. I take the responsibility for this. We will examine the reasons,” UDF’s CM hopeful Oommen Chandy said.
    The counting of votes gave several tense moments as it was proving to be a seasaw battle. On several occasions the UDF and LDF were seen leading in equal number of 70 seats each.
    Achuthanandan, who led the Left campaign, beat his nearest rival Lathika Subhash in Malambuzha in Palakkad district by a margin of 23,440 votes, while in Puthuppaly in Kottayam district Oommen Chandy won by 33,255 votes. State Congress president Ramesh Chennithala won from Harippad in Alappuzha, but by a margin of only 4,653 votes.

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