Kottayam, Wednesday 23 February 2011: Home Minister Kodiyeri Balakrishnan claimed that the political climate in the state was favourable to the LDF.

Talking to presspersons about the Vikasana Munnetta Jatha under his leadership here, Kodiyeri said the Jatha was getting warm reception at different centres.

During Parliament and local bodies’ polls, the climate was not favourable to the LDF, but now it had changed and certain sections, which openly opposed the LDF, were now supporting it. Price hike and corruption on the national level were the other factors favourable to the LDF, he said.

Referring to the corruption charges against the UDF leaders, he said it was not the LDF but those in the UDF camp itself raising the charges against the leaders.

On the charges against Chief Minister V S Achuthanandan’s son, he said the UDF was trying to divert people’s attention through false propaganda.

Referring to the withdrawal of vigilances cases against his son, he said several cases in connection with agitations, including that of against Defence Minister AK Antony and former Chief Minister K Karunakaran, were withdrawn.

His son was also involved in certain cases in connection with SFI agitation, which might have also included in that, he said. The government informed the court that it had no objection for withdrawing those cases and it was the court that withdrew all those cases, he said.