TIRUVALLA:The week-long high-voltage political drama over the candidature of Joseph M Puthussery as UDF candidate in Tiruvalla Assembly constituency ended after Kerala Congress leaders K M Mani MLA, MPs Joy Abraham and Jose K Mani reached Tiruvalla and held a meeting with senior Congress leader and Rajya Sabha deputy chairman P J Kurien on Saturday.
P J Kurien had earlier conveyed his displeasure in fielding Kerala Congress general secretary Joseph M Puthussery in Tiruvalla Assembly segment to K M Mani and UDF leaders, as Puthussery had worked against UDF nominee Victor T Thomas during the last Assembly polls.
The deadlock ended after P J Kurien softened his stance on Puthussery. Addressing mediapersons along with K M Mani, P J Kurien said Joseph M Puthussery would be the UDF candidate in Tiruvalla and the UDF would put up a united face to ensure his victory.
“Tiruvalla seat belongs to KC(M). Hence K M Mani has the right to pick the candidate of his choice,” he added. Meanwhile, Joseph M Puthussery read out a letter at the meeting admitting lapses on his part during the last polls. He has also expressed regrets for the mistakes committed during the last polls.
Double Standards
P J Kurien’s main contention was that Joseph M Puthussery had worked against UDF nominee Victor T Thomas during the last Assembly elections.
“The same P J Kurien did not demand any action against Sam Eappen who contested as a rebel against the official UDF candidate in 2006 polls. Sam Eappen later became the president of Peringara panchayat and now he is a district panchayat member with the support of Congress. Therefore, the allegations of P J Kurien won’t be accepted by UDF activists in Tiruvalla,” UDF leaders say.
Meanwhile, local leaders of the UDF term the allegations of P J Kurien against Puthussery as ‘childish.’