JOIN US However, the UDF camp seems to be more upbeat with intelligence agencies and a couple of surveys naming them as favourites to win the duel. The margin claims though remains hazy.
The assessment of the state Congress is that it would get at least 92 seats out of the 140 while the AICC which carried out its own survey has put the figure at 94 and more.
The LDF on its part seems to be veering round to a view that it would get as a working majority, up to 76 seats. However, Chief Minister V S Achuthanandan who attracted huge crowds at his election meetings has claimed a big majority for the LDF.
The UDF considers it has performed well in the districts of Thiruvananthapuram, Pathanamthitta, Kottayam, Ernakulam, Idukki, Malappuram and Wayanad while the LDF counts on its traditional strongholds in the north like Kannur, Kozhikode and Kasargod as well as Kollam in the south to deliver. Both fronts expect a tight fight in Alappuzha and Thrissur.
The high polling percentage of 75.12 including the above 80 per cent recorded in about 25 seats is being seen by the UDF as a favourable sign for it. The fact that many of these 25 seats happen to be in the LDF strongholds of Kannur, Kozhikode and Palakkad has given rise to contradicting claims by both fronts.
Before the counting day on May 13, two exit polls conducted by local TV channels are expected to throw some light on the outcome of the keenly fought Assembly elections. The Election Commission has permitted them to release the exit results only on May 10.
Revolt in UDF
Meanwhile, trouble has broken out in the UDF in Palakkad with the Congress candidate and former MLA of Chittoor A Achuthan coming out against the Janata Dal (Socialist) led by M P Veerendrakumar. It may be recalled that the JD(S) left the LDF and became a part of the UDF in 2009 but had to be content with fewer seats to contest this time.
The Chittoor seat which JD(S) had been contesting when it was in the LDF could not be given to the its nominee K Krishnankutty much to his chagrin. Achuthan has alleged that Krishnankutty and his supporters had campaigned against him and that the UDF should take action against him.