Defence Minister A.K. Antony has said that the State will witness a great leap forward in the next five years under the United Democratic Front. “The economy and the people who suffered under the ‘misrule' of the Left Democratic Front government will benefit from UDF rule,” he said.
Addressing the election campaign meeting of the UDF candidate P.J. Joseph at Thodupuzha on Wednesday, Mr. Antony said that those who had criticised the ASEAN free trade agreement were now keeping mum as farm produce like rubber and coconut were receiving good prices in Kerala. “The LDF had campaigned that the ASEAN pact could prove disastrous to the State's economy. They have been proved wrong,” Mr. Antony said.
He said that the Centre was making arrangements to provide food grains at a reduced price. “The nation has been a role model in the world economies, while the State remained underdeveloped under the LDF rule,” he said.
There was a wave in favour of the UDF in the State. “The UDF is united in Thodupuzha though there was some problems initially regarding the candidature. All issues were resolved once the candidature of Mr. Joseph was officially announced,” he said
He said the UDF must for the State's development.
