THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: K Surendran, the State President of the BJP asserted that the strong undercurrents of anti-incumbency against the Pinarayi Vijayan government and the wave of sympathy for Oommen Chandy were unmistakably evident in the recent Puthupally by-election. During a press conference held in Thiruvananthapuram, he attributed the Left Front's electoral setback to the public's resounding desire to deliver a potent blow to the Pinarayi Vijayan administration.

The Chief Minister's entanglement in ongoing controversies and various corruption allegations had ignited widespread public indignation. Additionally, the government's periodic shutdowns and mishandling of the Onam festivities further stoked anti-government sentiments. With the emergence of the INDIA front on the national stage, the left-wing parties lost their relevance. Notably, even the traditionally secure seat in Tripura slipped from CPM due to plummeting public support. Surendran highlighted that while the BJP made inroads in Tripura, the Congress made significant gains in Puthupally.

It is a customary trend in Kerala for the relatives of prominent leaders to secure victory in by-elections following their demise. This trend was evident when Thomas and G Karthikeyan passed away. The only exception to this norm was when K M Maney passed away. Refuting the claims of CPM leaders that the UDF's victory was a result of BJP's support, Surendran likened it to circus clowns making comedic assertions. He pointed out that those unable to retain their own voter base should not seek to court BJP's support. Furthermore, Chandy Oommen garnered more than 12,000 votes from traditionally left-leaning voters. Surendran emphasized that the UDF received more than double the number of votes compared to the Left.

Surendran dismissed the notion that the Left's foundation remained unshaken. He predicted that in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, the LDF would become inconsequential in constituencies where the BJP has established influence. Instead, he anticipates a fierce competition between the UDF and the BJP. Many people are questioning whether a single candidate can adequately represent the INDIA front's diverse interests prompting a need to assess how NDA votes will factor into the equation.