KOTTAYAM: Four years ago, the Kerala Congress Joseph Group used Chenda as the symbol for local elections. Three years ago, when the assembly elections were held, the symbol was changed to a tractor-driving farmer. And now as the Lok Sabha elections are around the corner, the party leadership is in a bind, not knowing what the Election Commission has decided for them as the new symbol.

The Kottayam seat has been given to the UDF Joseph Group. Former MP Francis George has confirmed his candidacy here.

With the Election Commission’s approval of the party, the two-leaf symbol was transferred to Kerala Congress M. Joseph's group was then allotted ‘Chenda’ as the symbol by the election commission during local body elections. Joseph then remarked on the symbol as the best fit for his party. Even the election campaigning of the Joseph Group party was carried out amidst Chenda melam beats (cylindrical percussion).

However, when it came to assembly elections, some independent candidates claimed Chenda as their symbol which forced the EC to allot tractor-driving-farmer as the new symbol for the party. And now, there is no surety about the symbol returning to the Joseph group during the LS polls. If the Mani group fields another independent candidate and asks for the symbol, the EC will resort to drawing lots to find an apt one.

LDF candidate Thomas Chazhikadan's campaigning work is moving at a fast pace with graffiti and painting work on walls with his two-leaf symbol while the Joseph group could do the most was to book certain walls in the city. The Joseph group will have to wait for the symbol until the total candidate list gets confirmed. It will prove to be gruelling to wait for the party.