However the BJP expressed hope that it would win a good number of seats.
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The Left is set to return to power in the revolving door state of Kerala, the India Today-Axis exit poll predicted today.
Even though Kerala boasts of having the highest literacy rate in the country as well a secular society, when it comes to electoral politics it is one of the most communally polarized states in India. While Prime Minister Narendra Modi, his party president Amt Shah and almost a dozen federal ministers campaigned for the BJP, Congress president Sonia Gandhi and senior leaders A K Antony and Ghulam Nabi Azad batted for the UDF. If its votes go up, it has to be seen if it is from the LDF or UDF, he said.
“And prohibit him from campaigning in Kerala during the ongoing assembly elections”, the Congress said in its memorandum.
The BDJS claims the support of the Hindu Ezhava community that forms more than 50 per cent of the 1.82 crore Hindu population in Kerala.
Observers say that the campaigning this time was the hottest ever in the history of Kerala elections considering the huge interest shown by national leaders: Prime Minister Narendra Modi, BJP chief Amit Shah, several Union Cabinet members, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, CPI (M) leaders Sitaram Yechuri, Prakash Karat, etc had campaigned in this election.
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Chief Minister Oommen Chandy, after casting his vote at home town Puthupally in Kottayam, exuded confidence in the United Democratic Front (UDF) retaining power. This is a seat that has been represented by the Left parties for years before Shaji won it in 2011. CPI-M, heading the LDF, has put up 92 candidates, CPI 27, JD (S) 5, NCP 4, Congress 1, Democratic Kerala Congress 4, INL 3, CMP 1, Kerala Congress (Syric) 1, Kerala Congress (B), 1 and RSP (L) 1. Mr K.P. A Majeed, Muslim League general secretary, told DC that the League will never align with the Left to prevent a BJP surge. On Tuesday, Kerala Congress (M) supremo KM Mani rubbished the exit poll results saying, “No exit poll is as accurate as the people’s choice, and that will be revealed on 19”.
