THODUPUZHA: Kerala Congress (M) working Chairman P.J. Joseph has come out in public for denying him a seat in the upcoming Lok Sabha polls. However he has clarified that he won’t leave the party or the front.

“There are two rules within the party. Party’s attitude towards me and Jose K. Mani regarding Rajya Sabha seat is a violation of justice. I heard about the candidate at Kottayam through the news. When I sounded my wish to contest, I expected a simple decision. Jose K. Mani was decided as Rajya Sabha candidate in a parliamentary party meeting. But regarding Kottayam seat, party Chairman was tasked to discuss that in the steering committee. After the meeting, K.M Mani declared that the regional leaders don’t want a person from Idukki to contest in Kottayam. Thomas Chazhikadan was selected as the Kottayam candidate later that night. When UDF was ready to talk regarding swapping the Idukki and Kottayam seats, the party refused. There was a common proposition that the ones in the candidate list don’t have a winning possibility. However, I couldn’t agree to the Congress idea that the candidate at Idukki should contest under their symbol. I cannot sacrifice my party’s interest in candidacy. This is not a failure by any means, but a beginning to big victory”, Joseph said.

Joseph further added that he will campaign for the UDF candidates.