PJ Joseph loyalist Jacob Abraham to be UDF candidate in Kuttanad bypoll

The United Democratic Front (UDF) has decided to allow the P J Joseph faction of the Kerala Congress to contest the Kuttanad assembly bypoll.

The decision was announced by Joseph himself after a UDF meeting. He said Jacob Abraham will be the party's candidate in Kuttanad.

Abraham, who had contested the 2016 election from the same constituency as a candidate of the undivided Kerala Congress (M) had lost to NCP's Thomas Chandy by 4,891 votes.

The UDF took the crucial decision even as taking a firm stand that it would not conduct any discussion with the Jose K Mani faction of the Kerala Congress to stay with the front.

Asked about the possibilities of further talks with Jose K Mani, Joseph said, it's a closed chapter.

The development came amid reports that the Jose K Mani faction, recognised as the official Kerala Congress (M) by the election commission, is likely to join the ruling CPM-led LDF.

The dispute between the Jose and Joseph factions following the death of party patriarch K M Mani last year had been a headache for the UDF for months. The UDF has decided to keep the Jose K Mani faction out of its meetings, prompting the Pala-based leader to abstain from the voting on a recent motion of no-confidence moved by the UDF. The party's two MLAs also did not vote in favour of the UDF candidate in the Rajya Sabha election.

Ahead of today's UDF meeting, there was a strong perception that bringing the two Kerala Congress factions together would not only be impractical but also detrimental to the Front. Therefore, even though the Election Commission denied recognition to his faction as the official Kerala Congress (M), the UDF decided to throw its weight behind Joseph, as he has been loyal to the Front.