High profile three-way contest in Kaduthuruthy

KOTTAYAM: Kaduthuruthy in Kottayam district will witness a triangular fight between sitting MLA Mons Joseph of KC (M),  LDF’s Skaria Thomas and NDA’s Stephen Chazhikadan (Kerala Congress). The constituency has favoured the LDF on  two occasions, with Mr  P.C. Thomas Pannivelil, who contested as an LDF  independent,  winning  in 1982 and 1987.

The present NDA candidate  is the paternal grandson of former MLA of the constituency, Joseph Chazhikkadan, who was elected twice from here in 1965 and 1967. Kaduthuruthy, where  95 percent population are  farmers, has a predominant presence of the Knanaya Catholic community.  There are close to 35, 000 community members and the total number of voters in the constituency is over 1,20,000. The Syro-Malabar Catholics,  Nairs, Ezhavas  and one percent Muslims are the other communities.   

Mr Mons Joseph won from the constituency for the first time in 1996 defeating Mr P.M. Mathew of the KC (J). He was defeated by Mr Stephen George of KC (M) in 2001 while he was with the Joseph group in the LDF. In 2006 and 2011, Mr  Mons continued his victory.

LDF candidate Skaria Thomas belonging to the Knanite Jacobite community, and Mr Stephen Chazhikkadan belonging to the Knanaya Catholic community are pinning their hopes on the votes of the community.  UDF sources are hopeful that Mr Mons will repeat his victory this time too.  It is to be seen whether there will be any under currents which will change the results.