Puthuppally bypoll: LDF announces Jaick Thomas as candidate

Kottayam: Left Democratic Front (LDF) on Saturday declared Jaick C Thomas as their candidate for the by-election to the Puthuppally Assembly seat that fell vacant after the demise of former Chief Minister Oommen Chandy, who represented the constituency for 53 consecutive years.

The candidature of Jaick, who is also a district committee member of the CPI(M), was announced by the party state secretary M V Govindan at a press meet.

The Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) has fielded Chandy Oommen, son of Oommen Chandy, as their candidate.

Chandy Oommen, who is currently chairman of the Youth Congress’s national outreach cell, launched his door-to-door campaign for the election on Wednesday.

“My father had lived his entire life for the Congress party. It is my responsibility to stand by the Congress party. People’s love for Oommen Chandy will reflect in this election,” he told reporters.

Meanwhile, the ruling CPI(M) alleged that the constituency was facing stagnation in terms of development as Chandy had represented it for over five decades

“Oommen Chandy had won by just a narrow margin last time. So, we are not scared about Chandy Oommen’s candidature this time,” CPI(M) central committee member A K Balan said.

The election will be held on September 5 and the results will be announced on September 8.

With inputs from PTI