'No stopping UDF from coming to power in Kerala'

Defence Minister and senior Congress leader A K Antony said on Thursday that no force can stop the Congress-led United Democratic Front from coming to power in Kerala and forming a government.

He mocked at the Left Front and said that Kerala was far behind in development as compared to other states. "The present government in the state has not made proper use of the benevolence of the Centre, which has been showering aid and projects to other parts of the country," Antony said.

He was addressing mediapersons at a press meet organised by the Kesari Memorial Journalist Trust and the Kerala Union of Working Journalists in Thiruvananthapuram on Thursday.

India is now a rising economy and for the growth of the country the United Progressive Alliance government under the leadership of Dr Manmohan Singh and UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi has to be thanked, he said.

Antony called upon the people of Kerala to vote for the UDF and the Congress, which will be "operating closely with the UPA government at the Centre to bring major projects to the state and to improve growth and development".

To a question on who will be the chief ministerial candidate if the UDF comes to power, the defence minister said, "The Congress has certain set parameters for selecting the chief minister. However, all of us -- the electorate of the state and the high command -- do not have any doubt on the chief minister candidate." However, he did not specify any name.

When asked why the UDF will come to power, Antony said, "The people are fed up with the Left government and once the UDF is elected there will be good economic development in the state," he said. "In the history of Kerala, as far as the local body elections go the LDF has lost in a major way. The assembly elections will be logical conclusion," he added.

When questioned about the Communist Party of India-Marxist's future if it loses in both Kerala and West Bengal, Antony said,  "I don't feel that the Left will lose its relevance in national politics if they suffer a setback. However, I do feel that this will give them time for introspection."