Pala byelection: No Kerala Congress (M) candidate, Jose Tom to contest as independent

KOTTAYAM: Jose Tom Pulikkunnel will contest in Pala by elections as an independent candidate with UDF support. The nomination papers filed by Pulikkunnel as the Kerala Congress (M) candidate was rejected by the Returning Officer S Sivaprasad after consultation with the District Collector P K Sudheer Babu who is the District Election officer on Thursday.
Pulikkunnel had submitted three sets of nomination papers-one as Kerala Congress (M) candidate and the other two as independent candidate.Though disputes were raised over the nominations filed by Pulikkunnel as an independent candidate also, the uncertainty was over after the papers were accepted following scrutiny by the RO.
Now, Jose Tom, picked by Jose K Mani as the candidate will have to contest the elections without the official symbol of Kerala Congress (M)-two leaves. Pulikkunnel have requested to allot either auto rickshaw, football or Pine apple as the symbol. Meanwhile, Joseph Kandathil, the candidate fielded by P J Joseph, kept his word and withdrew the nomination as the nomination of Pulikkunnel as an independent candidate was accepted.
According to the Returning Officer, there were two factors which lead to the rejection of Jose Tom Pulikkunnel’s nomination as KC (M) candidate. The RO did not found valid the ‘B’ form of the candidate signed and submitted by Stephen George. According to an Idukki sub court verdict P J Joseph as the acting chairman of the party had held a meeting and had suspended Stephen George from the party. Secondly, in the capacity of working chairman as acting chairman Joseph had given in writing to the RO that there are no official candidate of the KC (M) in the Pala elections and hence no body should be allotted the official symbol of the party.
The dramatic developments in the day saw a moral victory for P J Joseph. The candidature of Pulikkunnel as a KC (M) candidate with its official symbol was ruled out as the RO had accepted the arguments raised by P J Joseph. The RO stated that P J Joseph as the working chairman of the party has the right to allot the symbol of the party.
Pulikkunnel reacted to the day’s development saying that symbol is not an issue. “I am a UDF candidate. People of Pala see K M Mani's
face as my symbol. Whichever symbol I have I am sure of a win,” he said.
Joseph Kandathil said that P J Joseph asked him to withdraw nominations once it was assured that Pulikkunnel will not be allotted the party symbol.
Jose K Mani said that P J Joseph had violated the agreement arrived at the UDF meeting.
Reacting to the symbol row, P J Joseph asked why a person (Pulikkunnel) who had said that he do not want any symbol needs the party symbol now. Joseph also said that Pulikkunnel was suspended from the party and hence no symbol for him.
Though, Joseph established his authority over Jose K Mani faction, he assured the UDF leaders Oommen Chandy and Ramesh Chennithala that he will work for the victory of Pulikkunnel.
Later in the day, when Joseph arrived at the inauguration of the UDF election convention in Pala, Jose supporters booed at Joseph and shouted 'Joseph go back'. Crowd booed at every single mention of Joseph’s name by the speakers. The situation was embarrassing for the UDF leaders who had earlier announced that all issues will be settled with the start of the campaign.
Joseph while addressing the crowd said that he understands their feelings. He also said that he hopes that the "issues with Jose K Mani will get over by today or tomorrow." Difference of opinions are not permanent. I will go by any decisions taken by the UDF. Jose Tom will win by a big margin,” signed off Joseph.