CM mocks media over LDF's success in local by-elections

KANNUR: Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan pointed the achievement of the LDF in the local by-elections. The chief minister asked what all was written and didn’t you see what came yesterday. He said you must all have understood what the people will accept. He was speaking at the face-to-face programme in Kannur, a continuation of the Nava Kerala Sadas.

‘The offices of the ministers and chief minister are worried. The officials are also concerned. They were worried on how to gather people. The report was that worrying without people. Things should not be viewed with a particular mindset. Even after writing all this, didn't you see the result that came yesterday?

Should try to understand things after standing there. People in our hometown don't take things as you want them to. Shouldn’t such media have the brains to understand that people have the right discernment, asked the chief minister. Ministers K Radhakrishnan and K Rajan were on the dais along with the chief minister.

The by-polls were held in 23 wards. LDF won 10 seats and earlier it was five seats. The UDF which had 14 seats shrunk to 10. The BJP, which had four seats, got only three.

The CPM also retained the sitting seat in the panchayats of Palakkad Thathamangalam Municipality, Pookkottukavu and Thiruvananthapuram Pazhayakunnummal. Lost to BJP at Veliyanadu in Alappuzha and to Congress at Edavanakkad in Ernakulam. The CPM also wrested panchayat seats from BJP in Ottasekharamangalam in Thiruvananthapuram, Nedumbassery in Ernakulam, Mullaserry in Thrissur, Muzhuppilangad in Kannur and Eruthempathi in Palakkad from the Congress.

The CPI captured the wards of Vellar in Thiruvananthapuram Corporation and Chadayamangalam Panchayat in Kollam from the BJP. With this, LDF's gain has increased to 10 seats. The defeat in Vellar has left the BJP exhausted.