THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The BJP was not able to take advantage of the favourable situation which prevailed in the state in the local body polls, said senior leader O Rajagopal. They should have acted carefully when there were efforts by the LDF and the UDF to defeat the BJP when there was a situation for the party to win. He also condemned the selection of candidates in some places.

‘The favourable situation could not be taken advantage of. When the situation comes for the party to win, the LDF and the UDF will jointly take efforts to defeat us. This should have been handled carefully. In some places selection of candidates failed miserably and pointed the case of Attukal ward in Thiruvananthapuram as an example.’

Rajagopal said the issue of Shoba Surendran should have been solved earlier but the leadership did not give much attention to it.