Kerala defeat beyond our expectations: Antony

After his party-led Front lost power to the CPI(M)-headed LDF in Kerala, senior Congress leader A K Antony today said the defeat is "beyond our expectations" and that despite being upset about it "we are not demoralised".
"This defeat is beyond our expectations and we accept the defeat. We wish best wishes to the new government. We will function as a constructive opposition even though we are a little upset about the result. But at the same time we are not totally demoralised," he said.
Antony, who hails from Kerala and has been a three-time former chief minister of the state, said the southern state follows a pattern where people elect one government and then after five years another one.

Refusing to give a detailed comment on the party's drubbing yet, the former Union Minister said elections are just over and he will give his remarks only after a week or so after analysing the results from each constituency and the state.
Putting up a brave face, he said, "We have seen even worst days in the past when I was a new Congress person in 1967. In that election out of 133 we got only 9 seats, but after that we were able to come back again with support of the people."
The CPI(M)-led LDF regained power in Kerala getting a comfortable majority dealing a huge blow to the ruling Congress-led UDF while BJP created history making its debut in the results declared yesterday.

In the 140-member assembly, CPI(M)-led Left Democratic Front(LDF) won 91 seats, Congress-led United Democratic Front(UDF) 47, BJP and Independents, one each.