THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Opposition Leader V S Achuthanandan on Wednesday alleged that UDF victory in Piravom was the result of “bribing of voters with money and liquor.’’ He told reporters here that Piravom had traditionally been a stronghold of the UDF and it was only three times that the LDF could manage to win there; when the ‘A’ group of the Congress party was part of the LDF in 1980, when a strong ‘I’ group rebel contested against the UDF in 1987 and during the LDF wave in 2006.“Before the election notification, new Bars were allotted in Piravom and neighbouring areas. The Excise Minister himself stayed back in the constituency and made use of the services of liquor barons to flood the constituency with liquor,” Achuthanandan said.“Our election plank was the anti-people activities of the UDF ministry and the performance of M J Jacob during his tenure as MLA. But, during the last three weeks, all the ministers were camping in Piravom and flooding the voters with promises. The government also violated election code of conduct to appease the voters,’’ he alleged.The government could evolve an illicit tie-up with caste and communal forces ahead of the elections. The government conceded to the demands of the community leaders, he said. He pointed out that the UDF had announced in advance that in the event of victory of Anoop Jacob, he would be inducted into the Cabinet. Asked whether he was sticking to the LDF claim that Piravom by-election would be an evaluation of the government’s performance, he said that the UDF victory should be seen against the backdrop of the abuse of the government machinery. Asked whether he regretted his remarks about former SFI leader Sindhu Joy, he said that the media had misquoted him. “She has also said that VS’ statement had saved her from being left in the oblivion.’’
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