After choosing not to respond to the LDF election debacle three days since the votes were counted, outgoing Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan broke his silence on the fourth day. He said the defeat was unexpected and the LDF will return stronger.
"We respectfully accept the people's verdict in the assembly election," Vijayan said, congratulating the Congress-led UDF on its victory.
He thanked the people for the support to the LDF despite counter-campaigns and attacks against the ruling coalition.
This comes as LDF won just 35 seats in the 140-member assembly. The UDF won 102 seats while the BJP secured three seats, its highest tally in the state.
Pinarayi termed the BJP's three-seat win as "serious", adding that the LDF would continue its fight against communal and divisive politics.
He also slammed certain media outlets for spreading half-truths, exaggerations and misinformation.
The outgoing CM said the LDF would review the election results, listen to the opinions of all comrades and assess the situation democratically. He response comes amid growing concerns from within the party about one-sided decisions taken by the CPI(M) leadership.
Pinarayi said the LDF would not back down because of fake narratives and misinformation spread by corporate PRs. "The shortcomings in the LDF's positions and interventions will be democratically reviewed. Necessary corrections will be made," he said.
