THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The exit poll results, which suggest that the BJP may win up to three seats in the state and make a big improvement in vote percentage, have left both the LDF and UDF camps reeling. Although these predictions only have a life span until the votes are counted, the potential for danger is keeping the leaders awake. Both the fronts were confident that the BJP would not win any seats this time as well. The concern increased when BJP was predicted to win between one and three seats in the survey of all thirteen leading agencies.

According to surveys, BJP's vote share will increase from 15 percent in the 2019 parliamentary elections to 23 to 27 percent this time. It is also predicted that there will be a decrease of 8 to 10 percent in the vote share of LDF and UDF. This is what worries both sides. The interpretation is that the BJP's invasion will create a split in the traditional Ezhava and Muslim votes of the LDF and the Christian votes of the UDF.

Leaders taking jabs at each other

Even while dismissing the exit poll results, CPM and Congress leaders have not hesitated to take jabs at each other over the strides the BJP says they will achieve. CPM central committee member AK Balan said that Congress will be responsible if Suresh Gopi wins in Thrissur. K Muralidharan's retorted that if that happens it will be because CPM voted for them.

BJP's target, Legislative Assembly

While most of the surveys have allocated the Thiruvananthapuram, Attingal and Thrissur seats to the BJP, Pathanamthitta has also been credited to them in one survey. Buoyed by the exit poll results, the state BJP leadership says the next target is the 2026 assembly elections. KPCC President K Sudhakaran's response that even if the BJP does not open its account this time, it will take power in Kerala in the future can also be read along with this.