THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Kerala Congress (Joseph faction) appears to be set for a generational transition, with strong indications that its chairman P J Joseph may opt out of contesting the forthcoming assembly elections, making the way for his son, Apu John Joseph’s debut entry into electoral politics.
The party’s high-powered committee is expected to deliberate on the matter after March 7. Should Joseph decide to step aside, his son, Apu John Joseph, is likely to be fielded from Thodupuzha assembly constituency, marking a significant shift in the party’s leadership dynamics. On the other hand, bilateral discussions are on between the Congress and KC(J) over seat sharing.
Veteran leader P J Joseph has won from the Thodupuzha constituency 10 times since 1970. Apu has been active in the party after he was made the state coordinator. However, he had so far chosen to stay away from electoral politics.
Though there is apprehension about the changing power equation in the party if P J Joseph keeps away from electoral politics, particularly between Apu and Mons Joseph MLA , who currently occupies the number two position, the leadership has brushed aside such concerns.
“Even if PJ Joseph steps aside from electoral politics, he will continue as the party chairman,” said a Kerala Congress leader. “Thus, he will continue to take the key decisions.”
Several leaders are of the view that Joseph should contest from Thodupuzha considering the evolving political atmosphere. Though the Congress has communicated to P J Joseph that he should consider contesting from the Idukki assembly constituency, the party leadership has dismissed the suggestion so far. Apu has also informed the leadership that he would consider contesting the elections, if P J Joseph opted out of the contest.
At the same time, the Kerala Congress is facing mounting pressure from the Congress amid the ongoing seat- sharing discussions. The Congress is understood to have urged the Kerala Congress to reconsider certain candidates or to concede a few seats.
In the seat-sharing discussions held on Saturday morning too, Congress leaders repeatedly demanded KC(J) to concede its Idukki seat to them. The Congress leadership believes that fielding weak candidates in certain constituencies would be suicidal in the closely contested assembly election.
“Congress has conveyed that the candidate proposed for Idukki constituency by the Kerala Congress is very weak. If the seat is conceded to us, we could take on Minister Roshy Augustine and defeat him comfortably,” said a Congress leader.
Though the Congress has demanded to reconsider the candidates in Kothamangalam and Irinjalakkuda constituencies, the Kerala Congress has not conceded so far. The Congress also wants to swap its Poonjar seat with Kerala Congress’ Ettumanoor assembly constituency.
Meanwhile, the Roman Catholic church has raised reservations against the proposed candidate Shibu Thekkumpuram in the Kothamangalam constituency. In Irinjalakkuda the party has proposed Thomas Unniyadan. Mons Joseph (Kaduthuruthy), Reji Cheriyan (Kuttanad), and V J Lali (Changanassery) are the other proposed candidates.