Kottayam: Kerala Congress (J) deputy chairman K Francis George will be the United Democratic Front (UDF) candidate in Kottayam Lok Sabha constituency, which is set to witness the first direct confrontation in parliamentary polls by two Kerala Congress factions in 44 years.
The candidature would be announced only after the UDF seat-sharing talks are over. After that the Kerala Congress (J) leadership will announce Francis as its candidate.
The ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF) would field sitting MP Thomas Chazhikadan of the Kerala Congress (M).
The last time Kerala Congress splinter groups contested against each other in a Lok Sabha poll was in 1980, when Kerala Congress (J) of the UDF took on KC (M).
KC (M) had fielded sitting MP George J Mathew while KC (J) fielded George Joseph Mundakkal. KC (M) was part of the LDF and KC (J) was in UDF then also.
The LDF election strategy was steered by late K M Mani then, with P J Joseph donning a similar role in the UDF.
KC (J) candidate George Joseph Mundakkal emerged victorious then.
In Kottayam and erstwhile Muvatupuzha Lok Sabha constituencies, the Kerala Congress splinter groups had contested against each other in 1977 also.
UDF candidate Skaria Thomas beat setting MP and Kerala Congress Pillai group leader Varkey George then in Kottayam.
In Muvattupuazha, George J Mathew of the Kerala Congress won against K M Joseph of the Kerala Congress Pillai group.