THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Congress and CPM are set to begin discussions aiming Puthuppally by-election. There may be a preliminary discussion about the candidate in the CPM district committee meeting on the 31st and a detailed discussion in the state committee meeting next month. Congress will also move to the election discussion after KPCC mourning.

It is almost certain that Chandy Oommen will be the UDF candidate. Jake C Thomas, who reduced Oommen Chandy's majority to less than ten thousand in the last election, is most likely to be the LDF candidate. Another popular name Raji Zakaria is also a member of the Orthodox Church like Chandy Oommen. Jake has the advantage of being a member of the Jacobite sect that has a decisive influence in the constituency. Meanwhile, reports are also claiming that the CPM might field a more popular leader in the constituency. Congress is hoping that the sympathy wave will help Chandy Oommem win with a huge majority. CPM reckons that it can overcome the sympathy wave and attract new voters by highlighting the lack of development in Puthuppally.

Total panchayats- 8
Ruled by LDF- 6: Puthuppally, Manarkad, Pambady, Akalakunnam, Vakathanam and Kooroppada
Ruled by UDF- 2: Meenadom, Ayarkkunnam

History of constituency
PC Cherian (Congress) in 1957
PC Cherian (Congress) in 1960
EM George (CPM) in 1965
EM George (CPM) in 1967
Oommen Chandy since 1970

Oommen Chandy's majority

1970-7288

1977-15,910

1980- 13,659

1982- 15,983

1987-9164

1991-13,​811

1996-10,​155

2001-12,575

2006- 19,863

2011- 33,255

2016-27,092