Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) described the United Democratic Front (UDF) victory in the Vengara byelection as a great one.
“We could secure a decent lead in Vengara in spite of the ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF) using all possible resources it could,” said IUML general secretary P.K. Kunhalikutty at Panakkad near here on Sunday.
He said the Opposition parties could never win such a thumping victory in any byelection in the State before. “It shows that the UDF and the IUML are strong enough,” he said.
Mr. Kunhalikutty said the LDF used the “solar bomb” as a last resort in Vengara. “The UDF’s lead of 23,310 votes in Vengara is shining in the light of the LDF’s all-out campaign there,” he said.
Mr. Kunhalikutty said that there was no point in making the fall in UDF victory margin a matter of discussion. “The results showed that the opponents cannot beat the UDF in Vengara, however hard they try,” he said.
Mr. Kunhalikutty said there was a fall in the neutral votes that used to come the UDF way in Vengara. He said there was no fall in the political votes of the UDF.
A UDF meeting to be held in Kozhikode on Wednesday will review the election results.
Thangal all praise
IUML State president Sayed Hyderali Shihab Thangal said the lead of more than 38,000 votes secured by Mr. Kunhalikutty in 2011 and 2016 in Vengara was largely due to his personal influence in his home constituency.
Mr. Thangal said the 23,310-vote victory margin of K.N.A. Khader in the byelection too was a good one.