In Kerala, a Facebook campaign is building against minister and Congress candidate for the Irikkur constituency KC Joseph.
“We are all frustrated with Mr KC Joseph. Last 35 years of his service there is no development/no progress in our Legislative assembly (constituency) so we have to do something to stop him to contest again in Irikkur. So add more members from Irikkur constituency those who are not willing to vote Mr KC Joseph”, the description page of a Facebook group “Irikkur Who will bell the cat”? reads.
This Facebook group is trying to convince more people not to vote for KC Joseph, UDF candidate at Irikkur constituency in Kannur. Joseph, who is said to be a trusted minister of Chief Minister Oommen Chandy, has been an MLA and a minister for the past three decades.
What makes the story interesting is that the campaign against Joseph is coming from people within the Congress party. Being the Minister for Rural Development, Planning and Culture, his failure to repair roads in the constituency has given rise to this dissent even among workers of his party.
The rebel party workers made this public at a convention held on Friday, which was held in spite of a KPCC and DCC bar. They accused Joseph of not having done any work for the development of the constituency.
The Facebook group has over 10,000 members, and features some posts in support of KPCC General Secretary Advocate Sajeev Joseph, who was not given a party ticket to contest as Chief Minister Oommen Chandy favored KC Joseph.