KOTTAYAM: Mani C Kappan of the NCP will be the LDF candidate in Pala by-polls. A decision was taken at the NCP leadership meet convened here in the capital city at 11 am this morning. However, an official announcement will be made only after the LDF meet.

Even though Kappan had lost to Mani thrice, the LDF is of the belief that in the changing situation, they can win the polls easily. Not only that, when Uzhavoor Vijayan contested in 2001, K M Mani’s majority was 33,301 votes and when Kappan was fielded against Mani in 2006, it was reduced to 7590 votes. In the next elections, it came down to 5259 votes and in the last polls, it was 4703. This is one of the reasons for the LDF to be confident.

Mani C Kappan has the full support of NCP state president Thomas Chandy. However, Kottayam district former leaders had voiced against Mani C Kappan.