Kerala: 'With UDF win development will resume'

As voters queued up in Kerala to cast their ballot in the assembly polls on Wednesday, Union defence minister and senior Congress leader AK Antony reiterated that the United Democratic Front will come to power in the state with a thumping majority.

"The people of Kerala are yearning for a change. The UDF returning to power will mean that the development of the state which has been stagnant for the past five years will resume," Antony said while addressing media persons after casting his vote at the Jagathy Lower Primary school in Thiruvananthapuram. He was accompanied by his wife Elizabeth and senior Congress leader MM Hassan.

Complete Coverage: Assembly Elections 2011

The Congress and UDF workers are highly motivated and that the people would vote the present Communist Party of India-Marxist government out, he said. 

Former chief minister and Leader of the Opposition Oomen Chandy after casting his vote told mediapersons that the public will vote for the UDF as they want a change of government. Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee President Ramesh Chennithala also said that the UDF will win with more than 100 seats.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister VS Achuthanandan said he was confident that the Left Democratic Front would win the polls with a good majority. CPI-M state secretary Pinarayi Vijayan and the CPI-M politburo member and Kerala Home Minister Kodiyeri Balakrishnan also expressed hope that the CPM-led LDF will retain power in the state. "We will continue work on welfare projects for the poor and the downtrodden," they said.

Bharatiya Janata Party leader and former Union minister O Rajagopal said that this is time for change and that the people would vote for the BJP candidates.