The Democratic Kerala Congress, one of the new entrants in the ruling CPM-led Left Democratic Front in Kerala, is hopeful of getting a seat to contest in the upcoming Lok Sabha polls even as it pledges that it wouldn't demand Idukki, its stronghold.
Top sources in the party told Onmanorama that they are waiting for the LDF's stance on seat-sharing before demanding their portion of the pie. The senior party leader Onmanorama spoke to was realistic when he said the party cannot make strong pitch to contest since it doesn't hold any seat in the state.
However, the leader made it clear that the party would not at any cost demand Idukki seat, from where party chairman Francis George was elected twice earlier, in 1999 and 2004. George was then a part of the Kerala Congress (Joseph) which later merged with the Kerala Congress (Mani) faction. George, along with a section of leaders, split from KC(M) in March 2016, formed the Democratic Kerala Congress and aligned with the Left front ahead of the assembly polls. The party was inducted into the Left front recently along with three others -- Loktantrik Janata Dal (LJD), Indian National League and Kerala Congress (B).
George is most likely to be the candidate of the party in case it gets a seat, sources said. “We won't demand Idukki at any cost. It's the sitting seat of the LDF and we don't have any credential to stake a claim there now,” he said.
Idukki is held by Joyce George, an independent who is backed by the LDF. This time as well, Joyce George is most likely to be fielded as the LDF candidate, sources said, adding that his chances of winning are high.
The Congress-led UDF is yet to fix a candidate for the hilly district where Youth Congress leader Dean Kuriakose and All India Professionals' Congress state president Mathew Kuzhalnadan are the frontrunners for candidacy. AICC general secretary Oommen Chandy's name is also doing the rounds.
With Idukki out of their choice, the Democratic Kerala Congress may ask for Kottayam or Pathanamthitta where the party has some roots. The Janata Dal (S) contested from Kottayam last time and the CPM from Pathanamthitta. The Left front lost both the constituencies last time. Kerala Congress (M)'s Jose K Mani emerged winner in Kottayam while Congress' Anto Antony won from Pathanamthitta.
