KOTTAYAM: Mr Francis George of the Democratic Kerala Congress, who is the LDF-supported candidate in Idukki Assembly constituency, will get the support of the High Range Samrakshana Samithi. This was stated by Idukki MP Joyce George, who had won as HRSS -LDF supported candidate in the last elections.
Though the HRSS leadership is yet to take an official position, Mr Joyce George maintained that the farmers’ movement would favour Mr Francis George as the situation that prevailed in the Lok Sabha elections had not changed. This was the collective feeling of the HRSS, he said.
However, HRSS convenor Father Sebastian Kochupurackal has not announced any decision as such. Earlier, Idukki bishop Mar Mathew Anikuzhikattil, patron of HRSS, had said that they would not support the LDF and that the Church would uphold the decision of the Kerala Catholic Bishops’ Conference (KCBC) to support the liquor policy of the UDF government.
According to sources, the HRSS leadership and the Idukki diocese were asked by the Church hierarchy to desist from making any statements favourable to any front. The bishop and the HRSS convenor were not available for their comments. The HRSS has considerable influence in the Idukki and Udumbunchola constituencies.
