Hello
While Jose is adamant on recapturing the constituency his party the Kerala Congress (Mani) had lost in a 2019 bypoll after the demise of his father K M Mani, Kappan is fighting to retain the seat he had wrested from then.
Kappan said that the party will request 3 seats, including Pala, from the UDF for the upcoming Assembly elections.
Kappan and nine others have resigned from NCP to form a new regional wing.
If Kappan is allotted the poll symbol of the Congress as is rumoured, the Pala contest would be tough for Jose K Mani.
An announcement in this regard is expected shortly after his meeting with NCP national leader Sharad Pawar in Delhi today.
Even though NCP has not taken any decision to quit the LDF as of now, Kappan has reportedly begun preparations to contest from Pala.
Kappan's decision will definitely give the Left Democrratic Front (LDF), in which NCP is a constituent, a huge respite.
Earlier it was reported that Pawar too wants NCP to stay put in the LDF camp. However, he is the opinion that denying the sitting seat to Pala legislator Mani Kappan amounted to injustice on the part of the LDF.
Both the LDF and UDF are eagerly watching Kappan's next move. Any decision to quit the LDF could be hastened by the recent directive of NCP national leader Sharad Pawar to state leaders not to severe ties with the ruling CPM-led LDF.
Pala MLA Mani C Kappan has already held several rounds of discussions with the UDF leaders in anticipation of denial of ticket by LDF.