Shattering P J Joseph’s dream, KC(M) picks Chazhikadan for Kottayam seat

Kottayam: After hours-long deliberations, Kerala Congress ( M) on Monday evening finally zeroed in on Thomas Chazhikadan as the party’s candidate for the Kottayam Lok Sabha constituency, shattering aspirant PJ Joseph’s dreams.

Until recently, the former minister had been the only claimant for the lone seat allotted to KC (M) by its alliance bandwagon UDF.

It seemed K M Mani couldn’t care less about leaving a section of the party in disappointment.  KC (M) chief picked up his close confidant, rejecting ambitions of P J Joseph

P J Joseph, KC (M) working chairman, representing Thodupuzha constituency in the assembly, had openly expressed his ambition to contest from Kottayam.

Marathon meetings of KC(M) however came to nothing forming no consensus over candidature. Both KM Mani and his son Jose K Mani reportedly wanted the seat for somebody in their clique.

The meeting saw supporters of rival aspirants arguing for their respective candidate, before K M Mani made the announcement.  

Emerging from the meeting, Chazhikadan told reporters “we will unitedly fight and win the Kottayam seat” and hoped that Joseph faction would support him.