THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The election race is getting close which can give the jitters to the UDF. A pre-poll survey has predicted that the UDF may get only a slender majority as the LDF has considerably reduced the huge lead the UDF enjoyed during the local bodies poll.
The survey and analysis conducted by the Institute for Monitoring Economic Growth (IMEG) in the 140 constituencies in the state says that the UDF may bag 72 to 82 seats in the 140member Assembly. The LDF will win 58 to 68 seats while the BJP won't be able to open its account this time too.
Neckandneck contest is on the cards in 20 constituencies in the state and a couple of tall leaders may face shocking defeat. "The BJP will improve its position in one or two constituencies. But there is no chance for the party opening its account this time too," said IMEG registrar A M Joseph.
The survey predicts that some regional parties in the state will face extinction with this election. In South Kerala, the LDF will face a setback while there will be a neckandneck fight in central Kerala. The position of the LDF is rather safe in North Kerala, says the study.
"The survey was conducted by interviewing a sample of 59,678 voters from March 21 to 29. As the candidate selection by both fronts were not complete, the choice given to the sample was to choose from LDF, UDF or BJP," IMEG director A Meera Sahib said.
The sample was selected randomly from selected wards in 140 constituencies, he said and added that "each voter was asked to cast his preference secretly and the slip was collected in a sealed envelop to ensure secrecy," said Meera Sahib.
He, however, admitted that the result won't be foolproof as the survey questions were based on one's affinity to rival fronts and not to candidates. This is the fifth election survey conducted by the IMEG and the organisers claimed that the result of previous four surveys were correct.
An election survey conducted by a news channel in the first week of March also predicted that UDF may come to power.
Comments
0 comment