THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Jose Tom Pulikunnel's loyalty towards Karingozhakkal family can be ascertained when he quipped after the UDF's announcement at Kottayam DCC office that he will be the UDF candidate for Pala by-election: “The party's symbol in Pala is K. M. Mani”. He has reasons to say so as KC (M) leader P.J. Joseph had been reiterating that the "two leaves" symbol would be given only to a winnable candidate.
Tom, 68, belongs to Idamattom Pulikunnel family and is the nephew of renowned Christian reformer the late Joseph Pulikunnel. Son of Scaria Thomas, a farmer and Mary Thomas Plathottam, Mr Tom is an M.Com and LLB. He has been president of Meenachal Co-operative Bank for over 26 years while his wife, Jessy Jose, was a former president of Meenachal panchayat and is now serving as a member.
“He stood with K.M. Mani till his last, and now with his son. He has got an impeccable track record as hardworking social worker,” said an observer with knowledge of the constituency.
