The following is the press statement issued by the Kerala state secretariat of the CPI(M) on July 30. THE Congress led coalition in Kerala – United Democratic Front (UDF) was successful in rallying the communal forces behind them in obtaining a favourable verdict in the Aruvikkara bye-election. The UDF gained this victory by misusing their ruling power, and by distributing money and liquor. In the days to come, our Party will evaluate this verdict in detail. The increase in percentage of votes polled by the BJP shows that under the UDF regime, communal polarisation is gaining ground in Kerala. It is a warning signal. The people of the state must be vigilant on this development. The CPI(M), by unifying the democratic and secular forces onto a greater joint platform will fight this communal polarisation. This bye-election verdict is not an endorsement for the UDF government’s wrong policies. They had obtained only 39.66 percent of the total votes polled. A majority of the voters have actually voted against the UDF government. But the UDF was successful in creating a division among the section of the people who opposed the wrong policies of the government. Blinded by this victory, if the UDF government continues to carry on its corrupt and anti-people policies, the CPI(M) will launch bigger struggles.