PALA: For the upcoming by-election, the UDF candidate in Pala is Adv Jose Tom Pulikunnel, the cousin of Joseph Pulikunnel, one of the founder leaders of Kerala Congress.

Jose Tom name was recommended considering his influence in Poonjar constituency and his past political association with the late leader K M Mani.

But still uncertainty surrounds the symbol of the party for the election.

Jose Tom, who is also Kerala Congress State general secretary, was a permanent panchayat member nine years ago but in 2010 he withdrew from the election scene.

The reason for this was his drubbing in his own ward during the local body election of that year.

During that time, BJP independent candidate Biju was Tom Jose’ main opponent.

In that election, Tom Jose lost the election by 40 votes in the third ward of Meenachil panchayat.

In the election, the CPM and CPI had indirectly backed Biju. In the next election, he had fielded his wife as the candidate in the fourth ward of Meenachil panchayat.

After defeating Tom Jose, Biju contested under the lotus symbol of the BJP. Tom Pulikunnel has also been the panchayat president of Meenachil.