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Kerala Congress

For the Congress Party in Kerala, see Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee. For other parties with similar names, see Kerala Congress (disambiguation).

Kerala Congress is an Indian political party founded in Kottayam, Kerala on 9th October 1964, by a block of former Indian National Congress leaders led by K. M. George.[4][5][6] The party is primarily active in central Kerala.[5][7] Initially its main support came from the Syrian Christians and the Nair community of southern Kerala.[8]

Kerala Congress
കേരള കോൺഗ്രസ്‌
AbbreviationKC
ChairmanP. J. Joseph[1]
Lok Sabha LeaderK. Francis George
Founder
Founded9 October 1964; 60 years ago (1964-10-09)[2]
HeadquartersState Committee Office, Near Star Theatre junction, Kottayam, Kerala
Student wingKerala Students Congress
Youth wingKerala Youth Front
Women's wingKerala Vanitha Congress
Labour wingKerala Trade Union Congress
IdeologyLiberalism
Political positionCentre
ColoursWhite and red[3]
ECI StatusState Party
Alliance
Seats in Lok Sabha
1 / 543
Seats in Rajya Sabha
0 / 245
Seats in Kerala Legislative Assembly
2 / 140
Election symbol

The establishment of the Kerala Congress could be traced to the resignation and later death of P. T. Chacko, the Home Minister in the R. Sankar-led Congress ministry (1962–64).[5][6] Fifteen rebel Congress Members of the Legislative Assembly subsequently supported a successful no confidence motion on the Sankar Ministry.[5] K. M. George, R. Balakrishna Pillai and other leaders backed by the Syro-Malabar Catholic Church and the Nair Service Society leader Mannathu Padmanabhan, formed the "Kerala Congress" at Kottayam Thirunakkara Ground on 9th October 1964.[4][5][6]

History

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Main article: Splits and Mergers of Kerala Congress

Kerala Congress was formed as a breakaway faction from Indian National Congress in 1964, led by K. M. George and R. Balakrishna Pillai.[6] The party won 26 seats in the 1965 Kerala Assembly election.[6]

George and Pillai were arrested and imprisoned during the National Emergency.[6] Kerala Congress joined the C. Achutha Menon-led Kerala ministry in 1975 (R. Balakrishna Pillai and K. M. Mani as ministers).[6] R. Balakrishna Pillai was later replaced by K. M. George (who died in 1976).[6]

R. Balakrishna Pillai formed the Kerala Congress (B) in 1977.[6][5]

K. M. Mani, with the Congress alliance, served as the Home Minister in the later K. Karunakaran and A. K. Antony led ministries (replaced in between by P. J. Joseph).[6]

Kerala Congress (Mani) was formed from Kerala Congress in 1979.[6][5]

Kerala Congress (P. J. Joseph Era) (1979–2010)

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Main article: Kerala Congress (Joseph)

However, Splinter fractions of R. Balakrishna Pillai and K. M. Mani merged with parent Kerala Congress led by P. J. Joseph in 1985.

These parties again split in 1987 by K. M. Mani, after the split in the same year since there was a big legal battle for the name and symbol between P. J. Joseph and K. M. Mani. The court ruled in favor of P. J. Joseph. In 1989, R. Balakrishnan Pillai also left Parent Kerala Congress.

P. J. Joseph was minister several times until 2010 representing Kerala Congress.

Merger with Kerala Congress (M) and dissolution (2010–2015)

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In 2010, one of the founder's sons, P. C. Thomas, joined the Party. He was a Kerala Congress (M) member until 2001 and later formed his own party, the Indian Federal Democratic Party.

Later that year, Kerala Congress (J) and Kerala Congress (M) decide to merge into one party. P. C. Thomas did not support this merger and made his own fraction called Kerala Congress (Anti-merger Group).

Eventually, the Kerala Election Commission froze the party's name and symbol, thereby dissolving Kerala Congress.

Revival of Kerala Congress (2016–2021)

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Alliance with NDA (P. C. Thomas Era (2016–2021))

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P. C. Thomas was a chairman of Kerala Congress (Anti-merger Group). In 2014, a power struggle erupted in that party and on 2015 Thomas left Kerala Congress (Anti-merger Group) and formed Kerala Congress (Thomas) but Left Democratic Front did not approve this split and kicked out Thomas from their alliance.

In August 2015, the Kerala Congress faction led by P. C. Thomas join the Kerala unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA).[9]

In 2016, after a long legal battle P. C. Thomas received approval to use the name as bracket less Kerala Congress party. So Thomas dissolved Kerala Congress (Thomas) and revived the Kerala Congress.

P. C. Thomas contested from Kottayam Lok Sabha constituency for NDA[10] on 2019 Indian general election

In October 2020, it was reported that P. C. Thomas was leaving NDA and was likely to join the United Democratic Front (UDF).[11] The party however decided to stay in the NDA and extended their support to NDA candidates in the 2020 Kerala local elections.[12]

Kerala Congress (P. J. Joseph Era 2.0) (since 2021)

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From 2016 to 2021 Kerala Congress was in an alliance with NDA (National Democratic Alliance).

On 17 March 2021, the party left the NDA. later the Kerala Congress (Joseph), which was part of the Congress-led UDF merged into bracket-less Kerala Congress.[13][14] which lead to P. J. Joseph becoming the Kerala Congress Party chairman again.

2021 Kerala Legislative Assembly election

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After the merger with Kerala Congress, P. J. Joseph, and Mons Joseph resigned from the MLA post to avoid the technicalities regarding the Anti-Defection[15] Law as they had won the assembly election in 2016 in KEC(M) tickets[16][17] However, 8 out of 10 candidates of Kerala Congress lost in elections, only P. J. Joseph and Mons Joseph were re-elected to the legislative assembly from Thodupuzha and Kaduthuruthy respectively.[18]

Splinter Factions of Kerala Congress

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See also: Splits and Mergers of Kerala Congress

Parties in UDF

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Parties in LDF

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Parties in NDA

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Party organisation

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Leadership

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On April 27 a meeting convened online by the party leadership in Thodupuzha and chooses P.J Joseph as party chairman[19] and PC Thomas as working chairman[1]., Mons Joseph has been elected as the executive chairman[20]., Francis George Johnny Nelloor and Thomas Unniyadan as deputy chairman, while Joy Abraham[21] is the secretary-general.[22]

Electoral performance

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Loksabha election results in Kerala
Election Year Alliance Seats contested Seats won Total Votes Percentage of votes +/- Vote
2024 UDF 1
1 / 20
 364,631 1.84% New
2009 LDF 1
0 / 20
 333,688 2.09%   0.26%
2004 LDF 1
1 / 20
 353,905 2.35%   0.05%
1999 LDF 1
1 / 20
 365,313 2.40%   0.20%
1998 LDF 1
0 / 20
 327,649 2.20%   0.03%
1996 LDF 1
0 / 20
 320,539 2.23%   0.01%
1991 LDF 1
0 / 20
 319,933 2.24%   1.78%
1989 LDF 1
0 / 20
 68,811 0.46%   1.91%
1984 UDF 1
0 / 20
 258,591 2.37%   2.00%
1980 UDF 2
1 / 20
 356,997 4.37%   1.23%
1977 UDF 2
2 / 20
 491,674 5.6%   2.70%
1971 UDF 3
3 / 19
 542,431 8.3%   3,18%
1967 UDF 5
0 / 19
 321,219 5.12% New


Kerala Legislative Assembly election results
Election Year Alliance Seats contested Seats won Total Votes Percentage of votes +/- Vote
2021 UDF 10
2 / 140
 554,115 2.66%   2.48%
2016 NDA 3
0 / 140
 37,108 0.18%
2006 LDF 6
4 / 140
 271,854 1.75%   1.15%
2006 LDF 10
2 / 140
 455,748 2.9%   0.20%
1996 LDF 10
6 / 140
 442,421 3.10%   0.27%
1991 LDF 10
1 / 140
 477,849 3.37%   0.17%
1987 LDF 14
5 / 140
 451,159 3.54%   0.90%
1982 UDF 12
8 / 140
 435,200 4.55%   0.40%
1980 UDF 17
6 / 140
 471,817 4.95%   3.43%
1977 UDF 22
20 / 140
 734,879 8.38%   2.47%
1970 UDF 31
12 / 140
 445,232 5.91%   1.66%
1967   61
5 / 133
 475,172 7.57%   5.01%
1965   54
23 / 133
 796,291 12.58% New

Notable leaders of various factions of Kerala Congress

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References

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  1. ^ a b "PJ Joseph elected Kerala Congress chairman". 28 April 2021.
  2. ^ Fic, Victor M. (1970). "Split of Political Parties". Kerala: Rise of Communist Power, 1937-1969. Nachiketa Publications. pp. 184–85.
  3. ^ "unrecognized political parties and the symbols allotted to them when they were recognized parties" (PDF). Wayback eci. 3 June 2021. Archived from the original (PDF) on 3 June 2021.
  4. ^ a b Fic, Victor M. (1970). "Split of Political Parties". Kerala: Rise of Communist Power, 1937-1969. Nachiketa Publications. pp. 184–85.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g Philip, Shaju (23 October 2020). "The Long History of Kerala Congress Splits and Factions, from Mani to Son". The Indian Express.
  6. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k "How Kerala Congress Mastered the Art of Split and Rise". Malayala Manorama. 10 April 2019.
  7. ^ Jacob, George (9 October 2014). "50 years on, Kerala Congress Tries to Redefine Itself". The Hindu.
  8. ^ Kochukudy, Anand (18 April 2023). "Modi image, Syrian Christian base can help BJP in Kerala. But leadership crisis a spoilsport". The Print.
  9. ^ "P.C. Thomas in NDA fold". The Hindu. 2 August 2015. Retrieved 10 September 2019.
  10. ^ Jacob, George (10 March 2015). "Scaria Thomas is chief of pro-LDF Kerala Congress". The Hindu. Retrieved 10 September 2019.
  11. ^ "Jolt to NDA as P C Thomas' Kerala Congress to quit alliance, likely to join UDF". The New Indian Express. 24 October 2020. Retrieved 4 March 2021.
  12. ^ "Kerala Congress (PC Thomas faction) announces support to NDA in local body polls". ANI. 5 December 2020. Retrieved 4 March 2021.
  13. ^ "Kerala Congress Thomas faction leaves NDA ahead of assembly polls". 17 March 2021.
  14. ^ "P C Thomas to quit NDA; to merge with P J Joseph". Mathrubhumi. 17 March 2021. Retrieved 17 March 2021.
  15. ^ Radhakrishnan, S. Anil (19 March 2021). "Two Kerala Congress legislators resign". The Hindu.
  16. ^ "Joseph, Mons quit as MLAs; uncertainty looms over symbol". 19 March 2021.
  17. ^ "Kerala Assembly Elections | Kerala Congress in a bind over election symbol". The Hindu. 20 March 2021.
  18. ^ "With just two seats, PJ Joseph loses battle of Kerala Congress factions". The New Indian Express. 3 May 2021. Retrieved 9 May 2021.
  19. ^ "P J Joseph will be chairman".
  20. ^ "കേരള കോൺഗ്രസ്: പി.ജെ. ജോസഫ് ചെയർമാൻ".
  21. ^ "KC factions formalise merger". The Hindu. 27 April 2021.
  22. ^ "P J Joseph is Kerala Congress chairman, P C Thomas working chairman".
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