The Hindu : Kerala / Kochi News : `Faction fight main reason for Congress rout'

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, May 14, 2004

Kerala

Kerala - Kochi

`Faction fight main reason for Congress rout'

By Our Staff Reporter

KOCHI, MAY 13 . The winner of the Ernakulam Lok Sabha seat, Sebastian Paul, expressed happiness at the verdict of the people in returning him to the Lok Sabha with the same margin with which his rival in 1998 election, George Eden, won the seat.

The factional fight in the State unit of the Congress and the anti-UDF wave that swept the State helped to consolidate the margin, Mr. Sebastian Paul said.

At the same time, the LDF campaign manager, K. Chandran Pillai, MP, felt that the realisation among the masses that only the Left could correct the wrong economic policies of the Government and the resentment among the masses against the Antony regime helped the Left Democratic Front score an impressive victory in Ernakulam, which was considered the citadel of the United Democratic Front.

The poll results also showed that the people had rejected the compromise formula that was arrived at in the Congress for the selection of candidates in the State.

The poll result also marked the end of the inclination of Christian groups towards the UDF.

The Muslim voters who parted ways with the UDF during the last bypoll stood by their decision during this election also, which resulted in the poll result, Mr. Chandran Pillai said.

The jubilant party workers accorded Mr. Sebastian Paul reception at various centres in the city.

He also began the constituency tour.

He toured the Njarakkal constituency this evening.

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