Left bounces back ahead of Kerala vote

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: On the eve of Wednesday’s vote in which a Left rout had seemed imminent, the CPM-led coalition has begun to look less vulnerable with pundits predicting a photo finish.

The Congress-led United Democratic Front, however, remains confident of gaining an absolute majority as the Left Democratic Front insists its return is inevitable.

What helped the Left in the final push was the V S Achuthanandan factor and a Hindu consolidation in its favour , say political observers.

‘‘ Many in the community feel both UDF and the LDF are pampering minorities and entering into undesirable ties with fundamentalist elements among them,’’ says writer and Muslim scholar M N Karassery.

Muslim votes, by and large, would go to the UDF, he predicts. The Indian Union Muslim League — a UDF ally — has been successful in reaching out better to the community. This could also be ascribed to the waning influence of hardline groups like People’s Democratic Party of Abdul Nasser madani which held considerable sway in the past. Even an outfit like the Jamaat-e-Islami is not indispensable, provided the two Fronts decide to shun it, says Karassery.