Senior Congress leader A K Antony today slammed the CPI(M) in the state and said the party's foundation had eroded and there was no future for it.
"The Marxist party's foundation has eroded and even if they revamp themselves, they may not succeed," he said, reacting to the victory of UDF candidate Sabarinadhan in the Aruvikkara Assembly bypoll.
Antony, a former Chief Minister, said "the electorate of Kerala does not like negative politics. The victory is a node for continuance of the Chandy government's development policies."
Profusely thanking the electorate for coming out to vote in large numbers despite heavy rains, he said the Congress-led front had worked unitedly for the victory.
KPCC President V M Sudheeran said the victory would strengthen the Front and the government.
"The victory is clear indication of the acceptance of the government's achievements," he said.
Meanwhile, CPI(M) state secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan said the UDF victory was the result of bringing caste and religious forces behind the UDF using government machinery.
"It is a victory earned by alluring voters with money, power and liquor," he said, adding the party would examine the result in detail.
The increase in BJP votes has proved that communal divide in the state under UDF government has strengthened, he said.
"This is a warning. Kerala society should be vigilant against it," he said, adding that CPI(M) would take the lead in rallying all the left democratic secular forces in one platform to take up the challenge.
Former minister and CPI(M) leader A K Balan said Aruvikkara has been a Congress constituency for over two decades and so there was no surprise in the UDF candidate's victory.
"It has been your winning seat for over two decades and what is the surprise in the victory?" he asked while ruling members exchanged pleasantries in the Assembly over the UDF candidate's victory.
Apparently referring to the recent decision of the UDF government to award the contract of Vizhinjan International Deepsea Transhipment Terminal project to the Mumbai-based Adani ports, he said, "we did not know that Adani's money has such a power.
