Thiruvananthapuram, May 8 -- Caretaker chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Thursday broke his silence on the LDF's defeat in the recent assembly elections, calling it "unexpected" and "not an end" for the coalition's political journey.

In a statement issued from his office, Vijayan said he accepts the public mandate "with respect" and thanks the section of voters who backed the LDF in the polls.

"Though we expected a victory for the third consecutive time, it gives us great confidence that a large section of the population stood with the LDF. This verdict is not an end for the LDF but a new beginning for continued political work. We are committed to regaining the public trust and moving forward," the chief minister said.

He said that th...