Puthuppally: CPM candidate for Puthuppally bypoll Jaick C Thomas on Wednesday reasserted that LDF’s agenda for Puthuppally is nothing but development. He was talking to the media after filing his nomination papers.   

The young CPM leader welcomed his rival candidate Chandy Oommen from UDF for an open debate on development. “Ever since the elections were announced, I have been inviting Oommen for a political debate on the developmental activities in the Puthuppally region, but he has not responded so far. CPM is ever ready for any debate on development and on the Pinarayi government, but UDF seems to have no answers for us,” said Jaick. 

“The incident in Kidangoor panchayat is a dirty example of the unholy alliance between Congress and BJP in Kerala. How is it possible for Congress to join hands with a party like BJP that is backed by an organisation like RSS which is responsible for the genocide in Manipur? I am seeking answers from the UDF candidate, he is silent, even the KPCC president and the opposition leader are not reacting,” accused Jaick.

Jaick submitted his nomination paper in front of the Kottayam RDO. LDF convener EP Jayarajan, CPM state secretary MV Govindan, Minister VN Vasavan, Kadannappalli Ramachandran, and K Anilkumar had reached Puthuppally on Wednesday. MV Govindan will inaugurate the LDF election convention in Manarcadu at 4 pm in the evening.

Meanwhile, UDF candidate Chandy Oommen and NDA candidate Ligin Lal are expected to submit their nomination papers to Pambadi BDO at 11:30 am on Thursday.