Pala assembly bypoll candidate Jose Tom Pulikunnel said that Kerala Congress (M) leader P. J. Joseph and UDF will also be responsible if he fails in the election. Jose Tom was responding to P. J. Joseph’s statement that he was contesting the poll as an independent candidate and he will not be given the Kerala Congress (M)’s election symbol. “The party will decide the date for submitting nomination papers and election symbol. If the ongoing disputes continue, it will affect all the party leaders. P. J. Joseph is a respected leader in UDF. It is normal for his to appear in campaign activities. All the leaders are with me,” said Jose Tom Pulikunnel.
Earlier, Joseph had stated that UDF’s Pala bypoll candidate Jose Tom Pulikunnel will have to contest the election as an independent and that he would not sign in Jose Tom’s nomination papers. As Jose Tom Pulikunnel does not have the backing of Joseph, he would not be considered the Kerala Congress (M) candidate and hence will not be granted a symbol. However, Joseph said he would support Jose Tom as he was the UDF candidate.