Pala: Is there a P J Joseph factor at play in Pala?
Perhaps, the crucial significance of Pala bypoll is that it will unravel an answer for this query as rival factions slug it to lord over the Kerala Congress, which has split and merged umpteen times.
The real question is if the veteran Kerala Congress (M) working chairman Joseph is indeed a factor in the constituency.
The answers are as diverse as the difference of opinion plaguing the regional party following the death of its founder K M Mani.
The KC(M) has virtually been split into two factions headed by Joseph and Mani's son and Rajya Sabha MP Jose K Mani.
The United Democratic Front (UDF) candidate in the bypoll, Jose Tom, belongs to the Jose K Mani camp.
The Joseph faction has decided to stay away from the front's poll campaign after their leader was booed by rivals during a poll rally.
Congress leaders say the issues have between sorted out and the Joseph faction has also been working for the victory of the UDF candidate.
Tom Jose even met Joseph at the latter's residence in Thodupuzha seeking support. However, all is not well within the KC(M) camp in Pala yet.
Leaders of the rival camps admit that the differences have not yet been patched up.
It is not yet clear if Joseph wields influence over a significant portion of voters in Pala, the home town of Mani.
The Joseph faction however claims to have the support of 8,000-10,000 voters.
“This is a new era in KC(M) where there is no Mani sir (K M Mani). The equations in the party have changed. Now, a large section of party workers support Joseph. They are fed up with Jose K Mani's arrogant behaviour,” a youth leader of the Joseph faction told Onmanorama.
He said there's a collective feeling among the people that Joseph should not have been insulted by the supporters of Jose K Mani in public.
“After the incident, we had planned to organise a convention in Pala town with at least 1,000 party workers who support Joseph. UDF leaders dissuaded us from calling the meeting saying it would help the LDF,” the leader said.
He said the fight in Pala is tough this time and even if the UDF candidate wins, the winning margin will be narrow.
However, the Joseph faction would only vote for the UDF candidate, he claimed.
Kerala Janapaksham leader P C George, who was earlier with the KC(M), believes that there are around 5,000 voters supporting Joseph in Pala constituency.
He said they would be reluctant to vote in favour of Jose K Mani, who insulted Joseph. George is part of the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance now.
Leaders belonging to the Jose K Mani faction dismissed the claims of the Joseph faction.
“Joseph doesn't have any influence in Pala. There could be a few local leaders supporting him,” a Jose K Mani-loyalist said.
Another leader was however, a bit realistic. “We don't count anyone as irrelevant,” he said.
However, the worst snub came from a top leader – “Joseph is insignificant,” he said.
We will have a definite idea on claims and counter claims only after votes are counted.