LDF sure of winning 86 seats, says Panniyan

Thrissur/Malappuram: CPI leader Panniyan Raveendran on Monday said the LDF was sure about winning 86 seats in the assembly elections and the tally would go above 100 if the constituencies which are witnessing neck-and-neck race also turn in favour of the Front.
While addressing a ‘Meet-thePress’ programme at the Thrissur Press Club, Raveendran said that BJP-UDF tie-up was visible in many constituencies and the statement of chief minister Oommen Chandy that the fight is between the UDF and the BJP was only meant to pocket minority votes.The chief minister’s game plan is to repeat the Aruvikkara experiment, he said.
The CPI leader launched a scathing attack on SNDP Yogam leader Vellappally Nateshan for aligning with the BJP. “Nateshan must recognize that the Ezhava community prospered because of the reservation system. Then, how can the organization which represents the community tie-up with a party which denounces reservation?,” he asked.
He also criticized Nateshan’s indecent remarks against E S Bijimol. “Nateshan must remember that he is using such language by sitting in a chair once occupied by a writer like Kumaranasan. He thinks he can utter anything just because he flies around in the helicopter offered by the BJP,” he said. The CPI leader also asserted that the BJP will not open account in the assembly.
Meanwhile, CPI national executive committee member Benoy Viswam said that the LDF will not allow the BJP to open account in state. He told reporters in Malappuram on Monday that minorities will support the LDF as only the Left parties can effectively defend the increasing influence of Sangh Parivar organizations in the state. He strongly criticized Muslim League for featuring the CPI candidate in Pattambi, Muhammed Muhsin, as anti-national.