WITH victory margins in most elections in Kerala wafer thin, poll predictions make for a tricky business. In fact, there have been instances when a candidate deemed to be an outright winner has lost by a handful of votes. As the state prepares for simultaneous assembly and parliamentary polls, pundits foresee a neck-to-neck race between the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) and the Left Democratic Front (LDF). So much so that even leaders of both fronts are guarded in their claims and counter-claims. Says Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) President Vylar Ravi: "It will be a close fight but we will emerge victorious." Similarly, former chief minister and veteran CPI(M) leader E.K. Nayanar, who is anchoring the LDF campaign, predicts a "tough fight" but is "certain of a victory for the Left".