3 weeks ago
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With another Lok Sabha election round the corner, Idukki is a litmus test for Kerala Congress factions.
Kerala Congress (M) group say that their votes will be an influential part of the victory of Idukki LDF candidate Joyce George.
However, the Kerala Congress (Joseph) group said that there is no influence of the KC(M) in the Idukki constituency.
According to KC(M) leaders, the party is influential in the Idukki, Udumbanchola, Thodupuzha and Peermade constituencies. Idukki constituency is the hub of Water Resources Minister and KC(M) leader Roshy Augustine.
Kerala Congress (M) district president Jose Palathinal said the party had over 60,000 votes in the Idukki district.
“We have 48,000 party members in the district. In our calculation, we have over 75,000 votes in the Idukki Lok Sabha constituency. The KC(M) is actively working for the victory of LDF candidate Joice George, and the KC(M) votes will be an influential factor in LDF candidates’ victory,” said Mr Palathinal.
Kerala Congress (Joseph) group district president M. J. Jacob said that KC(M) is not a major factor in the district.
“In this election, UDF candidate Dean Kuriakose will get most of the votes. Most of the Kerala Congress workers are Congress followers, and they know the present political situation in the country,” said Prof Jacob.
LDF candidate Joice George said the KC(M) workers actively participated in the campaign work in the Idukki constituency.
“When they joined the LDF front, they began systematic campaign work for the victory of the LDF candidate,” said Mr. George.
However, UDF candidate Dean Kuriakose said that only KC(M) leaders moved to the LDF front, and the original Kerala Congress followers are still with Congress. “The KC(M) votes will not affect the victory of UDF,” said Mr. Kuriakose.
