Ruling party debacle was expected

Dubai: The emergence of the Left Democratic Front as the winner in the Kerala Assembly elections has a lot to do with the United Democratic Front taking support from the veteran politician K. Karunakaran.

The Left Democratic Front (LDF) clinched 98 seats, once again painting the state red in colour as against 42 seats by the United Democratic Front (UDF).

The majority of non-resident Keralites said the election results did not come as a total surprise to them. For the common Kerala expatriate it was an intelligent verdict given by the people.

Yousuf Ali M.A., Managing Director of EMKE Group and Director, Board Members of Abu Dhabi Chamber of Commerce and Industries (ADCCI), said: "The manner by which some of these prominent leaders of Kerala conducted themselves and the manner in which they took the voters for granted have widened the gap between them and the common man.

"This has been reflected in the assembly election verdict. Educated voters of Kerala have once again proved that they have a mind of their own and are capable of taking tough and unprecedented steps to bring about a change.

"From the Gulf expatriates' point of view, I sincerely hope that the new government will take much needed steps to address the various longstanding grievances of us, NRIs, especially issues like the Kerala Airlines, education opportunities for children of expatriates, investment scenario, illegal recruitments, rehabilitation of Gulf returnees, etc.

"Though we don't have voting rights, I am sure the new government fully understands the very important role played by the large non-resident Keralite community based in the Gulf and will surely appoint a very capable minister to look into the affairs of the non-resident Keralites."

Similar reactions were also echoed by other expatriates.

Abdur Rahman, an employee at a Sharjah-based supermarket, said: "The Karunakaran factor played a major role in the UDF defeat. Keralites dislike him. He is not a man to be trusted. Moreover, Muslim votes went to the LDF this year," he said.

"There are quite a few corrupt politicians in the UDF and Keralites are tired of them. At least with the LDF the state will see an improvement in law and order situation," said M.K. Moideenkunhi who works as a delivery boy.

"Kerala politics has always been dominated by the Left parties and so the results do not surprise me," he added.

Nanda Kumar, a Dubai-based regional sales manager, said that Kerala state politics will finally get to see some fresh faces instead of the veterans who have passed retirement time.

"The people have made the right decision this time. They have overthrown a party which has leaders with tainted credibility. It is a welcome change," he said.

In reply to whether the state industrial growth will be curtailed by LDF, he said: "I do not think so. In fact I think that they will support the Smart City concept launched by the UDF."

Calling some Kerala leaders arrogant, Jose, who works as a project manager in Abu Dhabi, said: "Politicians like M.V. Raghavan, R. Balakrishna Pillai, Kunhalikutty and K.R. Gowri have all been defeated."

Jose said the chief minister of Kerala is going to be V.S. Achuthanandan.

He is the last reputed communist leader in Kerala currently. "If he is gone communism is gone from Kerala," he said.