The Polit Bureau of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) has issued the following statement on May 16, 2014 THE verdict of the people in the 16th Lok Sabha election has been clear and decisive.  There has been an anti-Congress wave which has routed the Congress and the UPA.  The BJP has gained from this anti-Congress wave resulting in a big victory for the BJP and the NDA.  There was an unprecedented use of money power in these elections. The results for the CPI(M) and the Left parties have been disappointing. The Left Democratic Front made gains in Kerala and the Left Front in Tripura won with increased margins. However, the widespread rigging,  violence and intimidation targeting the Left Front  in the elections in West Bengal has led to a distorted result which does not reflect the popular support for the CPI(M) and the Left Front. The Election Commission failed to intervene to rectify the situation from the third to the fifth round of polling in West Bengal. The Polit Bureau of the CPI(M) greets the thousands of cadres and supporters of the CPI(M) and the Left Front in West Bengal who have worked courageously in the face of ceaseless attacks in these elections. The Party will identify the weaknesses and take steps to overcome them. The people have voted against the policies of the Congress-led UPA government which resulted in price rise, agrarian distress and corruption.  They voted for a change and for relief from the problems afflicting them.  The CPI(M) will continue to work to defend the interests of the working people and to safeguard the secular democratic framework of the country.