India, May 5 -- The CPI(M) on Monday described the latest round of assembly election results as a "serious setback" for the Left, particularly in Kerala, while warning that the growing footprint of the BJP across states poses a wider challenge to secular politics and the Opposition's INDIA bloc.

The Communist Party of India (Marxist) said the results in West Bengal, Assam and Puducherry reflect the "ascendancy of right-wing communal forces led by the BJP," which it termed "a matter of deep concern for all secular, progressive and democratic forces."

Addressing a press conference, CPI(M) General Secretary MA Baby said the results underline "two major features": the defeat of the Left Democratic Front (LDF) in Kerala after 10 years in pow...