P J Joseph faction not to join UDF campaign for Pala bypolls

The P J Joseph faction in the Kerala Congress (M) on Saturday accused Jose K Mani faction of humiliating its leader and said they would not join UDF leaders in the campaign for the front's candidate Jose Tom Pulikkunnel in the Pala assembly bypolls.

The Joseph faction, however, will carry out a separate parallel campaign for Pulikkunnel's victory, its leaders said here.

The Joseph faction leaders alleged that the rival faction humiliated and used abusive language at their leader when he addressed the UDF election convention at Pala constituency two days ago.

Senior leaders of the Congress-led UDF, including Oommen Chandy and Ramesh Chennithala, had attended the convention.

"We will not participate in the UDF's election campaign. We will carry out a separate, parallel election campaign for UDF candidate Pulikunnel," Joseph faction leader Saji Manjakkadamban told reporters in Pala.

"We are hurt by the immature actions of Jose K Mani faction leaders. They humiliated our leader and hurled abusive languages at him", he alleged