Kochi, April 10 Senior Congress leader V D Satheesan expressed confidence on Friday in a major victory for the UDF, claiming it would sweep five districts, and dismissed speculation that the NDA would gain a foothold in Kerala.
Satheesan, speaking to reporters a day after the conclusion of the Assembly polls, praised the performance of the UDF leaders and workers during the election, saying it was the best he had seen in the last 30 years.
He said that his claim of the UDF securing over 100 seats is not just a statement, but based on the work the front has done over the last five years to bring back all those who had left it in 2005, and as a result, there was a huge wave in its favor in the state.
The leader of the opposition in the state assembly, who contested from the Paravoor constituency, further said that the Congress-led front also had major support from minorities and marginalized groups in society.
Besides that, he claimed that there was an anti-incumbency sentiment among the people who were disappointed with the LDF rule, and that the UDF provided them with a hope and an alternative that no other opposition had done in the past.
"All these factors will contribute to a major victory for the UDF, and it would not be surprising if we sweep the Malappuram, Wayanad, Ernakulam, Idukki, and Pathanamthitta districts. That would be a total of 43 seats," he said.
According to him, the polling percentage increased because the UDF was able to add people to the electoral list.
He also dismissed the LDF's remarks about a woman or youth CM, saying that "they can make such statements now because they know they cannot win."
"Otherwise, why did they campaign with Pinarayi Vijayan as the main factor? Why did they say a third Pinarayi rule will come?" he asked.
He also claimed that the LDF's decision to spend government money on its political campaign, by putting up hoardings and carrying out social media programmes to sway voters, has also backfired as people realized that their taxes were being wasted like that.
Asked whether the NDA will gain a foothold, especially in areas where the UDF claimed the BJP-led front had made a deal with the LDF, Satheesan replied in the negative.
He said that as of now he does not see any chance of the NDA gaining a foothold in the state.
