Jose K Mani and P J Joseph | Photo: Mathrubhumi
Kottayam: P J Joseph who lost the legal battle for Kerala Congress (M) party is going to announce a new party. Joseph is planning to register a new party after Jose K Mani owned the party name Kerala Congress (M). However, the registration procedures of the new party cannot be completed before the election. But it is learnt that he will announce the name of the new party soon.
Joseph’s party is likely to have the term Kerala Congress. If registration procedures are not completed before election, the candidates of Joseph faction will have to contest on independent symbol. Even then they will have to face technical issues including whip.
A political party not registered cannot receive election funds. So, they are also considering merging with another existing party and then change its name later.
As the dispute over the party name and symbol was under consideration of court, Joseph was given the symbol of drum in the local body election. However, they are unlikely to get the same symbol this assembly election.
Discussions were held with P C Thomas regarding merger but they did not progress further. P J Joseph will return to Thodupuzha after completing reverse quarantine on Thursday. The official announcement about the new party will be made after this.
The supreme court had upheld the Election Commission’s order allotting the two leaves symbol to Jose K Mani the other day. The apex court rejected Joseph’s plea stating the court does not want to interfere in the high court verdict that Election Commission has the authority to allot symbols to parties.
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