‘Jose K Mani sold seat’; People were mobilized for Kottikalasham by giving liquor, says Mani C Kappan

KOTTAYAM: Pala MLA and UDF candidate Mani C Kappan has levelled serious allegations against Kerala Congress (M) Chairman and LDF candidate Jose K Mani. Kappan while talking to a private channel alleged that Jose K Mani sold seats to his own party's candidates.

He received Rs 9 crore for seats including Piravom. The details of the other seats are not being disclosed at the moment. People were mobilized for the Kottikalasham after giving liquor. It was not Kottikalasham, but a game of toddy, said Kappan.

The candidates in Pala are Kerala Congress (M) Chairman Jose K Mani, Mani C Kappan, and BJP state vice president Shaun George. Jose K Mani was unable to continue the success of K M Mani, who represented Pala for half a century as a minister and MLA, last time. He lost to Mani C Kappan by 15386 votes. This time, Jose is entering the second fight with the Left, hoping to win back the constituency.

UDF candidate Mani C Kappan also has a strong political family background. His father, Cherian J Kappan, was a Congress leader and a member of the Travancore and Thirukochi assemblies. Mani C Kappan, who was a Left candidate in Pala since 2006, first won as a UDF candidate in the by-election held in 2019 after the death of K M Mani. Kappan is aiming for a hat-trick.

Shaun George, who is contesting the assembly polls for the first time, is the son of seven-time Poonjar MLA P C George. In 2016, P C George won with a historic majority. Although he lost last time, George is the BJP candidate this time. There is a special feature that both father and son are candidates.