The strife-torn BJP, which has been claiming to have achieved the critical mass for producing its first Kerala MLA, had its hopes dashed yet again. Its top horse in the race, former Union minister O Rajagopalan not only lost in Palakkad but also could not draw even as many votes as his lesser known BJP predecessor in the constituency, Udaya Bhaskar, had managed in 2001. The BJP’s only other hope Manjeswaram came a cropper with the party finishing a poor third. That apart, its state vote share also went down this poll to 4.7 per cent, from 5 per cent in the 2001 poll that had zoomed to over 12 per cent in the subsequent 2002 Lok Sabha poll.

Worse still was the case of the Muslim League, which had its biggest drubbing ever. Its top leaders in the poll fray were beaten and the party had to limp home with just eight seats out of the 21 that it contested, down from the 16 it had in the last Assembly poll. In contrast, Left appendage Indian National League (INL) bagged its first seat in the Kerala Assembly this poll.

KPCC president Ramesh Chennithala alleged that the LDF had achieved its victory only because it allied with communal and casteist forces, and the state would now have to face its aftermath. Chief Minister Oommen Chandy, however, said he accepted personal responsibility for the “unexpected defeat”.

Before the election, it was my wish to see the seventh Left Front government. It is good to know that my dream is going to be fulfilled... Buddhadev Bhattacherjee will have to play a more crucial role in Delhi in view of the differences between the Left and UPA
— CPI (M) veteran Jyoti Basu

... contd.