KOTTAYAM: A fierce triangular fight is on the cards in Pala with Kerala Congress (M) chairman K. M. Mani confirming his candidature and Kerala Congress chief P. C. Thomas expressing his willingness to be the NDA candidate. The LDF’s choice is also crucial.
BJP state secretary Narayanan Nampoothiri told DC that his party had suggested Mr P.C. Thomas as NDA candidate. “A strong LDF contender can make the fight tighter and even influence the outcome,” political commentator A. Jayashankar said.
The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), which had been contesting for the LDF in the past elections, is considering Jimmy George and Mani C. Kappen. Mr Mani made his debut in 1965 from here, engaging in a triangular fight, and won. Pala witnessed triangular fights again in 67 and 70, and he repeated the win.
P.C. Thomas was a benefactor of a triangular fight in 2004 when he defeated Mr Mani's son Jose K. Mani as NDA candidate in Muvattupuzha Lok Sabha constituency with a good lead in the Pala assembly segment. The LDF candidate was P.M. Ismail.
However, the KC (M) improved its tally in the Pala Municipality and the nearby panchayats in the civic polls last year. “The KC (M) can cash in on the bar bribery case by portraying Mr Mani as a victim of a conspiracy,” said George Podipara, also a political observer. Besides the Syro Malabar community, Nairs and Ezhavas also have a strong presence in the constituency.
