The first UDF rebel in Kerala has emerged in the Kuttanad seat, where the coalition partner, Kerala Congress, is contesting. Alappuzha District Congress Committee vice president Saji Joseph is set to announce his candidature as an independent, protesting against the party’s decision to concede the Kuttanad seat to the Joseph faction of the Kerala Congress.
Saji Joseph, who is also Youth Congress Mavelikkara Parliament Committee president, has been at the forefront of several party protests on farmers’ issues in Kuttanad. He announced his plan to contest, alleging that leaders of the ally “sold” the seat for money.
The Joseph faction of the KC, headed by veteran leader P.J. Joseph, announced candidates in eight constituencies yesterday, including Kuttanad. It has fielded state vice chairman Reji Cherian, who is the owner and chairman of the Ramada by Wyndham Alleppey resort.
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Local Congress leaders have long maintained that the UDF could win Kuttanad if a Congress candidate is fielded.
Having contested 10 seats in the previous election, the Joseph faction of the KC had agreed to give up Ettumanoor and Idukki this time. Notably, the Congress leadership had also pressed for the Kuttanad seat, but P.J. Joseph remained firm on retaining it.
Saji Joseph is expected to formally announce his decision in the afternoon.
The Congress had come up with its first list of 55 candidates yesterday.
With the Congress expected to announce the rest of its candidate list today amid infighting and competing claims, there is potential for more rebels to emerge. How the party handles senior leader and Kannur MP K. Sudhakaran’s claim over the Kannur assembly seat and UDF convener and Attingal MP Adoor Prakash’s claim over the Konni assembly seat is also being closely watched.
There are indications that if exemptions are granted to the two MPs, others may also raise the banner of rebellion, citing their own claims to contest the assembly polls. The party is already facing strong internal dissent over seat allocations in districts such as Thiruvananthapuram and Pathanamthitta.
The party’s ability to resolve these disputes over the next two days could significantly impact the UDF’s electoral prospects.
