As expected, Adv. A. Sampath of CPI (M) has won the election from Attingal parliament constituency. The people of Attingal has apparently gone against the state-wise and national trend of supporting the Congress-led front. However, the victory has not been as facile and as huge as expected. During the first few rounds of counting, Prof. G. Balachandran of Congress (I) had taken the lead of 3000 plus, much to the surprise of even Congress leaders. However, his dream run had continued only for one hour, after which Sampath gradually reduced his lead and eventually gained a clinching lead.
In fact, the CPM rank and file are in utter confusion regarding whether to celebrate the local victory or to mourn the state-wise and national defeat. They have won the battle, but their leaders have lost the war. Attingal is likely to be the only seat the LDF has got in the central and southern parts of Kerala. N. Peethambara Kurup of Congress (I) [or better, the nominee of Congress Karuankaran group] has won, against all odds, from Kollam. Sasi Tharoor, handpicked by Sonia Gandhi for Thirvuvanathapuram, of Congress (I) is also heading towards a comfortable win.
The CPM workers in Attingal can hold their head high in that they can even make a majority of people in the constituency to vote for even a candidate with a somewhat tainted image.
In fact, the CPM rank and file are in utter confusion regarding whether to celebrate the local victory or to mourn the state-wise and national defeat. They have won the battle, but their leaders have lost the war. Attingal is likely to be the only seat the LDF has got in the central and southern parts of Kerala. N. Peethambara Kurup of Congress (I) [or better, the nominee of Congress Karuankaran group] has won, against all odds, from Kollam. Sasi Tharoor, handpicked by Sonia Gandhi for Thirvuvanathapuram, of Congress (I) is also heading towards a comfortable win.
The CPM workers in Attingal can hold their head high in that they can even make a majority of people in the constituency to vote for even a candidate with a somewhat tainted image.
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