Joseph, Mons quit as MLAs; uncertainty looms over symbol

Kottayam: Kerala Congress MLAs PJ Joseph and Mons Joseph on Friday resigned from the post. The move was to avoid the technicalities regarding the Anti-Defection Law as they had won the assembly election in 2016 in Kerala Congress (M) tickets.

After the Kerala Congress (M) split into Joseph and Jose K Mani factions, the Election Commission had denied two leaves symbol to Joseph. Following this, the Joseph faction had merged with the Kerala Congress under PC Thomas the other day.

Though it was requested to the Election Commission, by PC Thomas in a letter, to allot a single symbol to Kerala Congress candidates, it was not considered. Meanwhile, today is the last day to submit the nomination papers for the assembly election and no Kerala Congress candidate has filed the papers yet.