Expressing confidence that the Kerala electorate will vote again for the Congress-led UDF government in the state Assembly polls, Chief Minister Oommen Chandy on Monday asserted that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) will face defeat, even though Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vigorous campaigns.
Speaking to ANI here after casting his vote, Chandy said that Kerala has been voting for UDF since the past five years in all elections and added confidently that the party would achieve similar results this poll as well.
Still smarting from the Prime Minister's comparison of the state to Somalia, he added that the people of Kerala had been hurt and insulted by the comment and that would be reflected in BJP's result.
"BJP will not open an account in the assembly elections. They do not have the support of the general public. People are still angry from what the Prime Minister said," the Chief Minister said.
Echoing similar sentiments, former defence minister A.K. Antony told ANI "I am very happy today. I am 100 percent sure that these elections will mark a new history for Kerala. Once again UDF is going to come back again. We will win hands down this election. LDF will once again sit in the opposition for next five years," he said.
"The BJP in spite of the hectic campaign by the Prime Minister will not be able to open an account in Kerala assembly. I am sure Kerala will vote for peace, communal harmony, stability and progress. I am very sure that we will get more seats than we got in last elections," he added.
Meanwhile, over 30 percent electorates cast their votes till 11a.m. in Kerala.
The state's Wayanad district recorded the highest turnout with 32 percent, while the lowest voter turnout is in Trivandrum with 21 percent.