The CPI today conceded that the West Bengal Assembly poll verdict was a "setback" to the Left and that its alliance with the Congress did not work while terming the LDF victory in Kerala as something "beyond expectations".


"I think this understanding between the Left and the Congress (in West Bengal) did not work. We could together get only 35-36 per cent of votes. Somehow, I think the votes might not have got transferred," CPI General Secretary Suravaram Sudhakar Reddy said today.


He termed the outcome in the state as "negative result" and said the Left would have to go in for a serious review of it. "We have to go for a serious review...why, in spite of a joint effort, it did not give confidence to the people of West Bengal to bring the alternative despite misrule, corruption and arrogance of Mamata Banerjee. We feel it's a negative result and setback to the Left and West Bengal," he said.


CPM flags hold a silent vigil in Kerala. The picture was tweeted by Raniyal Niyada.