29 September 2005

Press Statement

The Polit Bureau of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) has issued the following statement:

The Left Democratic Front (LDF) in Kerala has swept the local body elections.  The Polit Bureau of the CPI(M) hails this verdict given by the people of Kerala.  The resounding victory is seen in the LDF winning all the five city corporations, 70 per cent of the gram panchayat seats, 80 per cent of the block panchayat seats and 57 per cent of the municipalities. 

The results are a strong rejection of the Oommen Chandy government and its misrule.  The Congress and the UDF desperately tried to salvage their position by entering into an understanding with the BJP in many places.   This has further discredited the UDF and brought into question the secular commitment  of the Congress party in Kerala.

The Polit Bureau congratulates the Kerala unit of the CPI(M) and the LDF for this magnificent victory.  With this success, the way has been opened for revitalising the panchayat system and to carry forward the Left’s firm commitment to democratic decentralisation.