Kochi: Communist Party of India (CPI)'s Kerala unit secretary Veliyam Bhargavan on September 19 said the coming by-election to the Ernakulam Lok Sabha constituency would reflect the people's strong protest towards the "anti-people" policies of the Antony-led United Democratic Front (UDF) government in the state.

Addressing a Meet-the-Press programme of the Ernakulam Press Club, he said the two-and-a-half-year rule of UDF government had resulted in "a crisis" in sectors like education, health, traditional industries and public sector units.

Government was not taking any steps to protect workers engaged in the traditional sectors including coir and cashew, he alleged, adding major industries in the Kanjikode industries belt were on the verge of closure and public sector units identified for privatisation.

Higher education in the state had become affordable only to the rich, he charged.

People had become fed up with the activities of anti-social elements in the state, and police were unable to check their activities, he charged.

Despite the Muslim League's demand that Chief Minister A K Antony withdraw his controversial statement that minority communities in the state used their organised force for collective bargaining, Antony had not done so "as he wanted to be in the good books of BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party)", he said.

Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) leader Praveen Togadia, during his visit to Marad, had made provocative speeches, but government had not taken any action, he charged.

PTI