Close Fight Between UDF, LDF: Antony

The Congress will contest in not less than 82 seats it had contested in the last polls. Youth will have adequate representation in the candidates’ list, says Antony.

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM:  It’s a neck-and-neck race between the UDF and LDF in the upcoming Assembly polls, turning it indeed fierce,  senior Congress leader and former Union Minister A K Antony said on Tuesday.  “The UDF has bettered its position in the past one month. The atmosphere is favourable to the government,” he said.

Addressing mediapersons here before moving to address the KPCC office-bearers’ meet, Antony said that he would like to guarantee that if  voted to power again, the UDF would maintain extra vigil in all matters. On whether it was owing to a feeling that the government had erred many a time on crucial issues, Antony pleaded to not put tricky questions. “There were a lot of controversies during the tenure of the government. Everything is placed in front of the people’s court to decide,” he said.

Antony said that the contest in the state was only between the two main political fronts.  ‘’The BJP is not even a serious contender to post victory and is not a strong presence in the polls. The BJP itself has admitted that it is looking forward to only opening an account in Assembly,” he said.

Seats matter

• The KC(M) leadership kept clamouring for three more seats to contest, over and above the 15 seats it had contested last time
• The JD(U), for which the number of seats has been agreed at seven, insisted on getting two more winnable seats, in addition to Koothuparambu, Kalpetta and Vadakara.

AK-Speak

• Based on acceptability and winnability, candidates selection is complex
• Chandy, Sudheeran and Ramesh have a historic role to play in retaining power
• Dealing communal forces on a diplomatic vein would only alienate the Congress from its supporters