KOTTAYAM: The BJP has finally announced their candidate for the Puthupally bypolls. BJP Kottayam district chief Lijin Lal is the candidate. He was fielded in Kaduthuruthy for the last assembly polls. This was informed by the party through a press release.

Lijin Lal had served as yuva morcha district president and general secretary. He was in charge of the charity work done by the BJP during Covid time. He is into export business.

The complete picture of the contestants for the Puthupally by-election has become clear now with the announcement of the BJP candidate. The by-election to the assembly seat, which fell vacant after the demise of former chief minister Oommen Chandy, will be held on September 5 and the votes will be counted on September 8.

BJP state chief K Surendran alleged today that the UDF had started electioneering ahead of the Puthupally by-election when Oommen Chandy was lying ill. Surendran's controversial remarks were made at the press meet convened in Thiruvananthapuram amidst the Puthupally by-elections heating up. Surendran also responded to the monthly payment controversies against the chief minister's daughter. The CPM leadership is not even able to face questions on the issue of the chief minister and his daughter accepting monthly payment from the sand mining industry. The chief minister, his daughter and top congress leaders accepted 96 crores as monthly payment. Surendran blamed that none of the investigating agencies in the state questioning it is a proof of the law and order deteriorating.