The ruling United Democratic Front (UDF) leadership on Thursday ruled out the question of going in for early Assembly elections on the strength of its thumping win in the Aruvikkara by-elections. The UDF high power committee, which met at the Chief Minister’s official residence here, chose to shoot down any debate on the dissolution of the Assembly, by affirming its resolve to utilise the remaining part of the term for completing various projects and implementing more people-oriented schemes.
Addressing a press conference, UDF convener P.P. Thankachan said the coalition leadership would meet at Kovalam on August 3 to chart out programmes and policies to be implemented during the remaining months of the government’s term in office.
Ministers had been asked to prepare notes on various projects that could be implemented in the remaining months. He ruled out the scope of admitting any party into the coalition. “There are no hurdles before the UDF to complete its term in office comfortably. The question of going in for early election does not arise,” he said.
The UDF’s victory in Aruvikkara was outright political. The unity in the ruling coalition and the schism in the CPI(M) contributed to the victory. The lessons from Aruvikkara are that the BJP’s surge in the election should not be ignored. The erosion in the UDF vote base was less when compared to the LDF.
