THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Kerala Congress(Mani) which is back in the UDF fold is eyeing the Idukki Lok Sabha seat held by the Congress. The seat which is now represented by LDF independent Joyce George was a stronghold of the UDF for several years. KC(M) wants to shift from Kottayam to Idukki as the party feels that after holding the Kottayam district panchayat president post with the support of the LDF, things are not well with the Congress leaders and the cadre in Kottayam.
The political coup staged by Oommen Chandy and Ramesh Chennithala along with Kunhalikutty in the recent RS seat issue in favour of Mani has not gone down well with the lower rungs of the party.
Mani being a shrewd politician at the grassroots level knows this and decided to field his son and sitting member of parliament from Kottayam Jose K Mani for the RS seat. He knows that in the coming general elections, Jose will bite the dust if he is fielded in Kottayam.
Even if he is shifted to Idukki, there will be allegations that it is out of fear. Idukki has been returning Congress candidates with ease and in the last elections LDF independent and former KSU leader, Joyce George won owing to his proximity to the Catholic church.
The Congress party in Idukki was not in good terms with the Idukki Bishop. A senior leader of the KC(M) and a former MLA, who doesn’t want to be named, told Express Mani knows where to pitch and Idukki in 2019 will be safer when compared to Kottayam and Mani has already started negotiations in this regard.”
There are also indications that P J Joseph’s son Appu John Joseph will be fielded from Idukki constituency.
Sources in KC(M) told Express Joseph agreed to give the RS seat to Jose K Mani on condition that the party should shift from Kottayam to Idukki and that his son will contest there.” Joseph had won the Thodupuzha Assembly seat with a margin of 45,587 votes in the 2016 Assembly elections.