The Congress has fired the starting gun in the race for the Puthuppally Assembly constituency left vacant by the passing of former Chief Minister Oommen Chandy by announcing the much-anticipated candidature of his son and political heir, Chandy Oommen, on Tuesday.
The party’s national president Mallikarjun Kharge approved Mr. Oommen’s candidature hours after the Election Commission of India (ECI) announced the September 5 byelection.
Leader of the Opposition V.D. Satheesan cast the bypoll as a referendum on the Pinarayi Vijayan government’s performance. He said the Congress hopes to repeat “Thrikkakara in Puthuppally”.