Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI(M)] appeared to play down the import of the Left Democratic Front’s defeat in the Thrikkakara Assembly bypoll despite a spirited campaign that had Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, among other top leaders, at the vanguard.
Speaking to reporters after a State secretariat meeting, CPI(M) State secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan seemed to seek comfort in the report that the LDF had marginally increased its vote share, an estimated 2.6%, in the “United Democratic Front’s (UDF) citadel.” He, though, acknowledged that the LDF's vote share increase was minimal and not commensurate with the effort the party had invested in the campaign.
