Opposition asks Kerala government to quit

Thiruvananthapuram, May 29 (IANS) The Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) Friday asked Kerala's ruling Left government to quit in the wake of its debacle in the general elections.

Speaking to reporters here after the opposition alliance won 16 of the state's 20 Lok Sabha seats, UDF convenor P.P.Thankachen said it would be better if the ruling Left Front government in the state quit.

'If they have any morality, they should go,' he maintained.

The mood in the UDF camp, already upbeat, got another boost after four MPs from the state were sworn in as ministers of state Thursday, while A.K.Antony and Vayalar Ravi retained their cabinet portfolios which they held in the previous UPA government.

'At today's (Friday) meeting we have also decided that the UDF will sit down with all the six ministers as soon as the first session of Parliament ends. We will prepare a plan of action on what the priorities are needed to be taken up for the state. The state government also can do a similar exercise,' added Thankachen.

Meanwhile, the top brass of the state Congress party also met here to analyse the election and state party chief Ramesh Chennithala said that they have formed a committee to identify the reason why their candidates lost in the four seats.

'We have also directed our rank and file to see that this success does not go to their head, and instead they remain cool and calm and continue the good work at the grass roots to strengthen the party,' he said.

However, Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) leader state Finance Minister Thomas Isaac said that a defeat in one election does not mean the end of the road.

'Please don't write us off. In our assessment we had found out that we will not be able to win the majority of the seats. We will initiate corrective steps after we identify our flaws and bounce back,' said Isaac, at a function in Kottayam.