THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Hailing LDF's performance in the recently concluded by-elections, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Thursday stated that the by-election results can be seen as a triumph of secular politics over communalism. He also pointed out that LDF has recorded wins in three of the six recent by-elections in the state. Pinarayi was addressing the media after the announcement of the by-election results.

Taking a dig at BJP, Pinarayi said that the people of Kerala have rejected BJP and its communal agenda." While the BJP ended up at the second spot in the 2019 Lok Sabha election in Thiruvananthapuram, it failed to repeat the performance in Vattiyoorkavu. In fact, they were not able to pose any sort of threat to the LDF candidate. This shows the increasing popularity of the LDF government," he said. He also added that the election result shows the deterirating condition of the Congress within the state.

While admitting the defeat of LDF candiate Manu C Pulikkal in Aroor, Pinarayi said that the party will investigate the cause of the defeat. He also went on to criticize the NSS for seeking votes for the UDF in the name of caste. "We haven't taken NSS' stand seriously. NSS must remember that one cannot simply control the public just like handling children as they have the capability to think freely," he said.

The CM also took the opportunity to thank all the voters who supported the LDF government."I would like to use this opportunity to promise you that the government will do whatever it can to rise upto the expectations of the people who voted for it," he added.