Piravom: A Kerala Congress (M) councilor of Piravom Municipality landed in the soup with the Election Commission issuing notice to him for distributing ‘pidi’ (a traditional food of southern Kerala) and beef to celebrate the UDF victory in Kottayam Lok Sabha constituency.

Kerala Congress (M) Councillor Jills Periyappuram of Piravam Municipality received the Commission's notice. Kerala Congress (M) district president Tommy Joseph had filed a complaint with the Commission which in turn asked Jills Periyappuram to appear before it on July 30.

Tommy Joseph’s complaint is that Jils, who contested as a KC(M) candidate in the last local elections from 21st Division of Piravam Municipal Corporation and won as the chairman of the Welfare Affairs Standing Committee, has been engaged in activities against the party since the 2021 Assembly elections.

In the Lok Sabha elections, Jils supported UDF candidate Francis George instead of LDF candidate and  KC(M) leader Thomas Chazhikadan, the complaint pointed out. This had affected the prospects of Thomas Chazhikadan, the complaint added.

On the day of the election results, he along with the UDF leadership celebrated the UDF candidate's victory by distributing ‘pidi’ and beef in Piravom town. 

The complaint also stated that such activities are not the policy of the party and the Left Front. Tommy Joseph alleged that all this shows that Jills has withdrawn himself from the party. In this case, Tommy Joseph has demanded in the complaint that Jills is deemed to have defected, and hence be declared ineligible and disqualified from contesting the elections.

Gills,  on the other hand, said that he contested and won as a Kerala Congress (M) candidate in Piravom Municipal Council, and is working according to the party whip, including in the recently held Municipal president election. He also held that the campaigns to the contrary are not correct.