KOLLAM: Both the LDF and the UDF in Kollam Lok Sabha constituency were confident of victory after the polling on Thursday.
CPM district secretary K.Rajagopal told `Express’ that the LDF candidate would win by a comfortable margin. He said that all the votes of the LDF had been polled and the erosion occurred in the UDF votes.
UDF candidate Peethambara Kurup, speaking to `Express’, said that the gravity of resentment in the LDF camp would be reflected in the election results.
According to him, there has been considerable erosion of votes from the LDF camp. In fact, both the fronts had expected a higher voter turnout. While the UDF workers were seen more active in the field on the polling day, the LDF lacked the usual fervour it had in the past.
The polling percentage was high in the areas where the Latin Catholic Church has a sway over the voters, especially in the coastal areas. In the Muslim-dominated areas, the voter turnout was not up to the expectations of the LDF. In the LDF strongholds of the constituency, most of the voters had cast their votes in the morning itself. This was evident in the plantation belt of the constituency spread across the Punalur and Chadayamangalam Assembly segments.
In the cashew belt of the constituency, however, the picture was different.
The polling percentage was low in areas where the faction loyal to Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan is very strong when compared to Kundara or Chavara Assembly segments where the rival faction is strong.