CPM leader Sitaram Yechury holds a presser after the Kerala win and the Bengal loss. "We salute the people of Kerala for the faith they have reposed in the LDF and we assure that we will fulfill the promises made. These results confirm what we had said during campaign about a match-fixing between BJP and UDF. The historic victory of the LDF in Kerala has been possible because people have enthusiastically supported our positive program for development of the state. The verdict is against unprecedented corruption and misrule by the UDF in the last five years."

With the LDF heading for a victory in the Kerala Assembly polls, the focus of CPI (M) is now on who in the party will head the government. During the campaign, LDF did not project any leader as the chief ministerial candidate and had said it would be decided after the polls. Probable candidates for the top slot -- party stalwart V S Achuthanandan
and politburo member Pinarayi Vijayan -- have both got elected with a thumping majority.

The seat tally so far LDF 91, UDF 47, BJP 1