UDF registers convincing victory in by-polls, LDF has a long way to go

By O.J.George

The CPM-led LDF wanted to snatch one seat at least from the Congress-led UDF in the three by-elections of Kannur, Ernakulam and Alappuzha. Particularly, Kannur it had wanted badly, for the Congress candidate was former CPM whiz kid A.P.Adbulla Kutty.

The LDF and the CPM did not get what it wanted, for the Congress retained all the three seats. The LDF can have a minor consolation that its votebank has not shrunk compared to its performance in the Lok Sabha elections. True, Lok Sabha elections and Assembly election issues are vetted by the electorate differently.

Nobody expects V.S.Achuthanandan to fold up his business on account of the LDF debacle. Of course, he had contributed significantly to the campaign, badly hoping for a foray into the UDF fold.

Abdulla Kutty got a margin of 12,043 votes in Kannur, Dominic Presentation 8,620 votes in Ernakulam and A.A. Shukur 4,745 votes in Alappuzha.

Whether the margins have come down or not, a win is a win in the democratic set-up.The by-election results would definitely be a pointer to what is in the crucible for the Assembly elections in 2011.
There is nothing to speak against the conventional alternation of a UDF, LDF regime in the state.

CPM’s debacle is more pronounced in West Bengal. Trinamul-Congress combine has fetched eight seats out of 10 by-elections in West Bengal. The CPM has nothing to feel relieved, on the contrary, things appear to be very bad for the party. Mamata magic is working in favour of the Trinamul-Congress combine.

In spite of several constraints, democracy is deep-rooted in the politicalscape and we should be happy about it.