Pinarayi: LDF will reassume office with greater strength

Kannur: Opposition leader-designate Pinarayi Vijayan on Tuesday said CPM-led Left Democratic Front (LDF) would reassume office with greater strength and more public support.After inaugurating EMS Mandiram at Nediyenga, Sreekandapuram, Kannur, the former chief minister, who is also a politburo member of CPM, said no one should see the defeat suffered by his party and LDF in the assembly elections as their end."CPM faced many similar situations in the past and the party will regain people's support and confidence. Political opponents should not celebrate LDF's electoral setback inordinately," said Vijayan.The statement marks his first direct public response after the devastating verdict on May 4. After staying in office for 10 years, the CPM-led Left front suffered one of the worst defeats in recent times, finishing with 35 seats against 102 by UDF. BJP won the remaining three seats. Since the results, Vijayan remained largely out of public view, limiting his response to a brief social media message posted a few days after the defeat. Criticism reportedly mounted from within the party ranks on his style of functioning.Vijayan said that people wanted a change as they felt it would be good for democracy and that sentiment led to the LDF's electoral debacle."We accept the people's mandate. The LDF govt had only one aim that was to lead the state to progress and improve people's living standards. The govt executed development projects to ensure it in every region. The projects should be continued. LDF will extend all support for the same as a constructive opposition. If the govt acts against the state's interest, we will strongly oppose it," he said.Vijayan further alleged that the Union govt was trying to destroy the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act scheme. The Union govt is also harassing the farmers, he said.Referring to international issues, Vijayan said the United States was pushing people across the world into utter crisis. International matters are now impacting even the kitchen of common people, he added.