Kottayam: Even as uncertainty prevailed over the Kerala Congress (M) leader Jose Tom Pulikunnel getting the 'Two Leaves' poll symbol, another member from the party has also filed his nomination as a candidate for the scheduled byelection for the Pala legislative assembly seat.
The rebel candidate Joseph Kandathil belongs to the P J Joseph faction. P J Joseph told Manorama News that a rebel candidate was nominated to stop any move to allot Jose Tom the party symbol and that Joseph Kandathil will withdraw his candidature once the scrutiny is over.
Jose Tom had filed his nomination papers as the United Democratic Front (UDF) candidate for the Pala Assembly byelection on Wednesday morning.
He represents the faction led by Jose K Mani. The rival group, led by P J Joseph, however, has been insisting that Jose Tom cannot contest on the party symbol as he is suspended from the party.
P J Joseph had insisted earlier that he would provide the party symbol if the candidate submitted a letter acknowledging him as the party's working chairman.
However, the Jose K Mani group claimed that a letter acknowledging P J Joseph as the working chairman and requesting the Two Leaves symbol for Jose Tom was sent to P J Joseph on Sunday itself. But, P J Joseph said that he received the letter Wednesday evening only.
A power tussle between the two factions intensified after the demise of party chairman K M Mani.
As both the factions have sought the party symbol, a decision will be taken on September 7, announced the returning officer.
“By denying the Two Leaves symbol to Jose Tom, P J Joseph is violating the consensus reached in the UDF meeting,” said Jose K Mani.
“The candidate was decided in a meeting attended by P J Joseph too, the UDF should take a decision now,” he added.
The Pala bypoll is on September 23.
Fight for poll symbol
Election Commission rule states that candidates should submit a form (Form B), signed by recognised president, secretary or any other office-bearer of the political party, to be considered as its candidate. This form had to be submitted before 3 pm on the last day of filing nominations. The form essentially states that the candidate is a member of the party and he is eligible to contest on the party symbol.
With P J Joseph refusing to sign on the declaration, Jose Tom is unlikely to get the party symbol.
Jose Tom appears to have foreseen the crisis. He has submitted two sets of nominations – one as the Kerala Congress candidate and another as an UDF independent. He has requested three symbols - pineapple, football and autorickshaw – that independent candidates can select.
Jose K Mani said he was extremely saddened by P J Joseph's decision. "The people of Pala has a special bond with the 'Two Leaves' symbol," he noted.
The Pala seat fell vacant after the demise of party chairman K M Mani, the father of Jose K Mani, earlier this year.
In 2016 Assembly election, KM Mani had defeated LDF's Mani C Kappan by 4,703 votes. Mani's victory margin was 5,259 votes in 2011 and 7,759 in 2006.
Nationalist Congress Party leader Mani C Kappan and Bharatiya Janata Party's N Hari are the other major candidates in the fray this time.
