The first poll forecast in Kerala is out, indicating that the Opposition Congress-led United Democratic Front will end the five-year left Democratic Front reign and come to power, notching 77 to 87 seats in the 140-seat Assembly.
The survey, conducted by the Centre for Forecasting and Research for Asianet News channel, showed the ruling LDF ending up with 53 to 63 seats, down from the 99 seats it got in the Assembly elections of 2006. But the surprise element is the survey predicting the prospect of the BJP opening its account in the state Assembly. The BJP and others may get up to a maximum five seats according to the survey.
The vote share is as follows: UDF 43 per cent, LDF 39 per cent and BJP and others 18 per cent.
Interestingly, around 17 per cent of respondents felt that the candidature of the chief minister, Mr V.S. Achuthanandan, was a key factor in the polls.
The survey covered 200 urban and 600 rural spots between February 27 and March 7. The significant and most crucial aspect is that 18 per cent of the respondents were still undecided as to whom to vote for.
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Cong sets up election panel
AGE CORRESPONDENT
New Delhi
March 8: The Congress on Tuesday announced the formation of a 35-member pradesh election committee for the poll-bound Kerala. The committee comprises PCC chief, former chief ministers, Union ministers and other parliamentarians from the state. Releasing the list of names in the committee, AICC general secretary Janardhan Dwivedi said, Congress president Sonia Gandhi has accepted the proposal.