Thiruvananthapuram: With the second phase of the Kerala Assembly elections concluding on Saturday, moves are now on at a hectic pace for the third and final phase covering two districts of Kannur and Kasargode.
The two districts covering a total of 15 constituencies will go to the polls on Wednesday. Poll outcome, however, would be known only on May 11.
Polling in the first phase covering 59 seats in six southern district was held on April 22.
Exit poll results that came soon after the second phase upheld earlier surveys conducted by TV channels and other establishments giving a substantial lead to the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPM)-led Left Democratic Front (LDF).
The exit poll by AC Nielsen for India Vision television channel said the LDF could bag 47 of the 66 constituencies in six districts where polling took place.
The ruling Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) was poised to capture only 19 seats, it said.
The exit poll figures for the first two phases put together show the LDF sweeping to power with a record 86 seats in the 140-member House while a limping UDF would win in only 38 constituencies a reversal of the 2001 outcome.
If the LDF does win, it would be a major blow to the Congress party, which heads the UDF. Leaders of the UDF rebuffed the exit poll outcome as stage-managed by the LDF.
Saturday's voting ended at 5pm after an almost peaceful 10-hour exercise in Ernakulam, Thrissur, Palakkad, Malappuram, Wayanad and Kozhikode districts.
CPM leader V.S. Achuthanandan, who could become the next chief minister in the event of an LDF victory, was among the leading politicians whose electoral fortunes were decided in the second phase.
After going around his Malampuzha constituency in Palakkad district, he voiced confidence that he would win by over 20,000 votes, defeating Satisan Pacheni of the Congress.
Chief Minister Oommen Chandy on Sunday alleged that the opposition LDF was openly playing the communal card in the elections and appeasing the minorities to secure their votes.
"The LDF would have to pay dearly for throwing secular values to the winds," he said in Kasargode, adding there was no sign of any "anti-incumbency" factor against the ruling UDF.
"Usually the anti-incumbency factor against a ruling party would be visible during the poll campaigning. But this was hardly visible in the entire electioneering," he said, adding the LDF failed to project the factor.
Chandy charged the UDF with failing to put forth a clear cut vision and agenda as far as the development of the State was concerned.
Chandy said the exit polls and surveys would never succeed in changing the minds of ordinary voters and the UDF would "get more than comfortable victory in the elections".
