Wrong campaigning strategy led to Aruvikkara defeat: CPM

Wrong campaigning strategy was the reason for the Opposition LDF's debacle at Aruvikkara, the CPM central leadership has said.

The leadership, while evaluating the defeat, said that the issues pointed out by the chief campaign strategist did not work for the party. Solar and Saritha issues did not convert into votes at Aruvikkara, they added.

They also pointed out that the poll strategy focussed solely on UDF and did not attack BJP, who garnered a noteworthy proportion of votes.

Though it came second at Aruvikkara, this was a bad showing for the Left party with the saffron party eating into a good share of the votes. Even LDF stronghold areas voted in favour of the ruling front. Out of the eight panchayats in Aruvikkara, LDF managed to lead in only one.

CPM state secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan had said on Tuesday. "The UDF won by the by-polls with a combination of power, money and by supplying liquor in the constituency."

V.S. Achuthanandan's 'arattumundan' remark against senior Congress leader A.K. Antony also backfired, the leadership noted.

he party focused on just peripheral issues. The campaign highlighting solar scam and Saritha failed to garner votes. While aiming the UDF, the CPM failed to notice BJP's presence. Accordingly, anti-government votes got divided. Also, the party failed to foresee the advancement made by BJP, it noted.

The central leadership will evaluate the poll results in detail once the state committee submits its analysis report.

Source: Manorama