KOTTAYAM: Kerala Congress (Joseph) Chairman PJ Joseph announced former MP Francis George as the UDF candidate for Kottayam Lok Sabha constituency. Kerala Congress groups, part of the UDF-LDF fronts are clashing on this seat after 47 years. MP Thomas Chazhikadan of Kerala Congress M was named as LDF candidate.

Only in Kottayam seat in Kerala did both fronts declare their candidates before the election announcement. With BDJS state president Thushar Vellappalli, expected as the NDA candidate, Kottayam will be the first constituency in India where all three fronts announce their candidates first.

Former MP PC Thomas and KM Maani's son-in-law MP Joseph were also considered alongside Francis George. The Congress leadership rejected PC Thomas, who contested as an NDA candidate. With no consensus, Chairman PJ Joseph decided the candidate. Francis George was announced yesterday after special permission from the UDF leadership, as the Mani faction began campaigning with Thomas Chazhikadan as a candidate.

Kerala Congress founder KM George's son, Francis George, represented Idukki in the 1999 and 2004 Lok Sabha elections. In 2016 and 2021, lost to Roshi Augustine in Idukki assembly constituency.

'Kottayam, where the UDF has a strong base, will be recaptured. Will fight to solve the crisis in the agricultural sector.'

-Francis George