Joe Joseph, a young cardiologist working with the Lisie Hospital, owned and operated by the Archdiocese of Ernakulam-Angamally would be the CPI(M) candidate for the May 31 bye-election from Thrikkakara. This was announced by E P Jayarajan, convener of the Left Democratic Front, the CPI(M) led alliance.
The bye-election was necessitated by the demise of sitting member P T Thomas of the Congress. Uma Thomas, widow of Thomas is the Congress candidate for the poll and her name was announced on Monday by the High Command. The CPI(M)’s decision to field Dr Joe Joseph is being seen as an attempt by the party to buy peace with the Syro Malabar Catholic Church in the State with which the party had good relations in the past.
The tie took a turn for the worse when the Kerala Government recently filed a criminal case against Joseph Mar Kallarangatt, the Bishop of Pala for alleged “hate speech” in a congregation of the faithful.
Dr Joseph said he was no stranger to world of CPI(M) as he was a card holding member of party. He also ruled out the reports that he was fielded as a candidate by the CPI(M) to placate Church. Interestingly, the CPI(M) activists had started painting the walls across ythe constituency with the name of Arun Kumar, a party activist, as the candidate from Thrikkakara. This was called off following a diktat issued by the party leadership which indicated that there would be a change in the name of the candidate.
The AAP and the local outfit TwentyX20 had also announced that they would field a common candidate but the name was yet to be finalised. BJP is likely to field a candidate who has experience in losing all the polls he has contested till date.
“Congress is strong in this constituency and the victory of Uma Thomas is a foregone conclusion,” said Vishnu Vijayakumar, a young entrepreneur based in Thrikkakara.