Kottayam: Sources indicate that the BJP national leadership has requested National Committee member P.C. George to contest from the Poonjar constituency. Initially, George held the stance that he was not interested in contesting. However, refusing to give a public statement regarding his candidacy, he stated, "I will act according to the party's instructions." Meanwhile, it is almost certain that Shaun George, BJP State Vice President and son of P.C. George, will contest from the Pala constituency. He has already commenced preliminary campaign activities in the area.

A Rare Phenomenon

If both contest, it is said to be the first time in Kerala’s political history that a father and son have been candidates in the same election under the same party or alliance. The fact that they are contesting in adjacent constituencies has added to the curiosity.

P.C. George’s History in Poonjar:

2021 Election: Contesting as a ‘Janapaksham’ candidate, George finished in second place. Sebastian Kulathunkal of Kerala Congress (M) emerged victorious. Following this election, George merged his party with the BJP.

Victories: George secured victories in the 1980, 1982, 1996, 2001, 2006, 2011, and 2016 elections.

Defeats: He suffered defeats in 1987 and 2021. He did not contest the 1991 election.

Having dominated the Poonjar constituency since 1980 as a candidate for both Left and Right alliances as well as an independent, P.C. George entering the fray as a BJP candidate has now become a major talking point in state politics.