Participating in a 'face-to-face' programme along with sitting UDF MLA K Babu of the Congress at the Ernakulam Press Club, he alleged there had been a rise in the number of murders and robberies in Tripunithura during the past five years.

He also charged Mr Babu with not doing anything to solve the acute drinking water problem in the constituency despite being elected to the Assembly three times from there.

Mr Babu, while admitting that the people of the constituency, a suburb of Kochi city, were facing drinking water problems, said solving this would be his top priority in the next term.

Claiming that several developmental initiatives had been taken in the state during the UDF government, he said he was going to the people with a sense of satisfaction.

Denying any breakdown in law and order in the state, Mr Babu said it was in fact much better under the UDF government.

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