Senior Communist Party of India (Marxist) leader and Left Democratic Front (LDF) candidate from Peravoor constituency, K K Shailaja, has expressed strong confidence that the LDF will secure a third consecutive term in Kerala, dismissing exit poll predictions of a United Democratic Front (UDF) victory as unreliable. In an exclusive interview with IANS conducted on 3 May from Kannur, Shailaja outlined the LDF's development record, her pandemic-era legacy, and the political landscape ahead of the state assembly election results.

LDF's Development Record and Electoral Confidence

Shailaja cited a decade of governance as the primary reason for the LDF's optimism. She pointed to more than ₹90,000 crore in capital expenditure channelled through the Kerala Infrastructure Investment Fund Board (KIIFB), and an increase in social welfare pensions from ₹1,200 in 2016 to ₹2,600, benefiting approximately 62 lakh families. "Our expectation is very high. The LDF believes it can return to power for a third consecutive term because of the significant development achieved in Kerala over the last 10 years," she said.

She also highlighted missions including Haritha Kerala, education and healthcare development programmes, and the LIFE (Livelihood Inclusion and Financial Empowerment) Mission, under which more than five lakh houses have reportedly been constructed. These achievements, she argued, would resonate with voters at the ballot box.

Why Shailaja Dismisses Exit Polls

Several exit polls have projected a UDF win in the Kerala assembly elections, but Shailaja remains unmoved. She recalled that in her previous constituency, polls had predicted a narrow loss for her — yet she won by over 60,000 votes. "In the previous elections, many predictions turned out to be inaccurate... we should wait for the actual results rather than depend on exit polls," she said. Similar discrepancies, she noted, were observed in multiple other constituencies during past election cycles.

Pandemic Legacy and the Peravoor Campaign

Shailaja, widely recognised for her tenure as Health Minister during the Covid-19 pandemic, said the state's public health outcomes speak for themselves. Under her watch, Kerala's infant mortality rate fell from 12 per 1,000 live births in 2016 to 5 by 2020, according to her account. She acknowledged, however, that not all voters may be aware of such metrics, adding that the broader demand in Peravoor is for continued development on par with other constituencies. "I am hopeful of a positive outcome," she said.

BJP's Prospects and the Chief Minister Question

On the Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) growing ambitions in Kerala, Shailaja was measured but firm. She noted that the BJP, which previously held one assembly seat before losing it, is contesting widely this cycle with a focus on select constituencies. "I do not think the BJP will win a seat, but we will have to wait for the results," she said. This comes amid a sustained BJP push to establish a foothold in a state that has historically alternated between the LDF and the UDF.

Asked about speculation over a woman Chief Minister, Shailaja deflected without hesitation. She said the LDF is contesting under the leadership of incumbent Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, a veteran party leader contesting from the Dharmadam constituency, and that leadership decisions rest with the party. "Leadership is not about gender alone. Policy is what matters most," she said, adding that she herself has no aspirations for the top post and will abide by whatever role the party assigns her if she wins.

What to Watch Next

With actual vote counts set to determine whether the LDF's confidence is vindicated or the exit polls prove prescient, all eyes are on the results. The outcome will also settle whether Kerala makes history by returning a Left government for an unprecedented third straight term — a feat without modern precedent in the state's post-independence electoral history.