Reacting on the outcome of the results, he said, ''''I expected a tough fight between two equal forces and not such a humiliating defeat.'''' During his election campaign he did not witness any ''anti-incumbency factor among the people, he said. The reasons for the defeat should be ascertained, he added.

Mr Antony alleged that the CPI(M)-led Left Democratic Front had ''''sacrificed'''' its policies by accepting support from the communal forces like the Peoples'' Democratic Party (PDP) and the Jamat-e-Islami.

He said he did not feel that failure of the UDF government was the reason for its defeat. Many cumulative factors were involved in the defeat, he said adding the calculations went wrong.

Mr Antony also said in the past also, the Congress had suffered such humilating defeats, but in the next term it had regained power with more vigour.

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