Although Poonjar, along with Kanjirappally, lies within Kottayam revenue district, is a part of Pathanamthitta Parliament segment and is spread over Meenachil and Kanjirappally taluks.
In the last Assembly polls, the segment had been in the limelight in the run up to elections when a self-proclaimed LDF candidate Alphonse Kannanthanam had to pack up without notice. A couple of hours after resigning from the LDF, he joined the BJP and is now its national executive member.
P.C. George, KC(M) member, took the segment for the third time in a row and has stayed on the headlines ever since, albeit for various reasons.
This time too, Poonjar packs curiosity. Mr. George has already expressed his intention to throw the gauntlet, whether he gets the LDF support or not. The segment is also a bone of contention between the Congress and the KC(M). Poonjar is one of the three constituencies that the NDA has given to the fledgling BDJS.
Like in 2011, George J. Mathew, former Kerala Congress chairman and Congress MLA is also in the fray for the LDF support. There is also a demand from the CPI(M) cadre to field a candidate on party symbol. If the LDF drops Mr. George, Poonjar will likely witness a four-cornered fight.
In case the Congress swaps the constituency with the KC(M) with any other, DCC president Tommy Kallani may be a possible candidate.
In 2011, Mr. George had a lead of 15,704 votes.
