THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: A highly buoyed UDF leadership launched an onslaught against the CPM on Wednesday after the thumping victory in the Piravom byelection.KPCC president Ramesh Chennithala described the win as a victory of secular forces.“The unprecedented majority of the UDF candidate was the result of the immense support extended by all sections of the electorate. The CPM stance that the victory was the outcome of appeasement of various religions and communities is an affront to the people of Piravom. Everyone knows that former CPM ministers Thomas Isaac and M A Baby were seeking to better fortunes at bishop’s houses,’’ he said. Ramesh also criticised Opposition Leader V S Achuthanandan’s remarks that the victory was achieved through the flow of liquor under the leadership of Excise Minister K Babu in the constituency. ‘’Babu represents the constituency adjacent to Piravom and he was given overall charge. But the CPM had brought the Kannur lobby to lead the campaigning. No prominent leader of the CPM in Ernakulam district was there,’’ he said. Finance Minister K M Mani said that the result was a true reflection of the people’s growing confidence in the UDF Government and also a protest against the anti-people stance of the Opposition LDF on many issues. ‘’The UDF Government under Chief Minister Oommen Chandy is one which has created wonders in nine months time. People have not seen such a good governance,’’ Mani said. Industries Minister P K Kunhalikutty said if a general election is held now, the UDF will emerge victorious in not less than 100 Assembly segments. ‘’The trend is clearly in favour of the UDF,’’ he said. Government Chief Whip P C George demanded that both V S Achuthanandan and Pinarayi Vijayam should step down from the posts of Opposition Leader and CPM state secretary respectively, owning moral responsibility for the debacle.He asked the CPM leadership to withdraw all ‘’false allegations’’ raised against the UDF after the resignation of R Selvaraj. Excise Minister K Babu said that the poll outcome was the result of a comparison between the UDF Government and the role of the LDF.“The UDF took up the challenges raised by the LDF. The people have defeated all false propaganda and lies of the LDF,’’ the Minister said. “The victory margin at Piravom has even surpassed the expectations of the UDF. And a more colourful win will be established in Neyyattinkara,’’ Transport Minister V S Sivakumar said.
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