The Left Democratic Front (LDF) has at last settled the question over the candidature in the Kottayam Parliamentary segment with the Janata Dal (Secular) [JD(S)] declaring Mathew T. Thomas as its candidate.
Mr. Thomas, MLA from Thiruvalla, who had repeatedly expressed his unwillingness to contest this election since he was already burdened with the additional responsibility he was carrying as the party chief, is believed to have been coerced into accepting the candidature after the intervention of the national leadership.
Mr. Thomas is one of the two sitting MLAs who have been fielded by the LDF, the other one being M.A. Baby, CPI(M) Polit Bureau member, in the Kollam segment.
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Meanwhile, the announcement of Mr. Thomas as the candidate has brought back cheer in the LDF camp which has been pushed into total disarray following the inordinate delay on the part of JD(S) in deciding their candidate.
The CPI(M) had earlier zeroed in on their district secretariat member P.K. Harikumar as the party candidate. However, this was before the party reworked on its strategies following the shock over the walkout of RSP from the coalition.
As soon as the seat was given to the JD(S), the CPI(M) had called off the party machinery from its campaign mode. Meanwhile, the internal dynamics within the JD(S) appears to have created a situation where a section of the leadership wanted Mr. Thomas to take on UDF candidate Jose K. Mani in the UDF bastion, in spite of the unwillingness of Mr. Thomas. The two other leaders who were in the party list were party State vice-president George Thomas and Benny Kurian, State committee member.
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The entry of Mr. Thomas has, meanwhile, livened up the election arena as he is considered as one of the few leaders in central Travancore who can give a good fight to Mr. Jose K. Mani.
Mr. Jose K. Mani has emerged as a formidable contender to the Parliament seat. He has, in fact, completed two rounds of campaign already. The LDF campaign will be formally launched on Sunday evening.