The United Democratic Front has decided to field Kerala Congress (M) veteran Jose Tom Pulikunnel for the Pala Assembly byelection.

Jose Tom belongs to the Jose K Mani faction of the Kerala Congress (M).

The party's working chairman and Jose K Mani's bete noire P J Joseph said he would abide by the UDF decision.

Jose Tom's candidature was finalised by a seven-member committee led by Kottayam MP and senior party leader Thomas Chazhikadan.

The Left Democratic Front announced Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Mani C Kappan as its candidate a few days ago.

Ever since its formation in 1965, the Pala constituency in Kottayam district had been represented by Kerala Congress (M) supremo KM Mani, whose demise in April has necessitated the bypoll.

Soon after his death, the factional feud in the party worsened with one camp led by his son Jose K Mani and the other by Kerala Congress (M) working chairman P J Joseph battled it out to claim the supreme post in the party.

"Only the candidate with a winning chance would be given the party symbol of 'two leaves'. It would be a fierce battle in Pala this time. KM Mani had won for just 4,200 votes. Therefore, the Congress and all the allies would make a collective decision on the candidate," Joseph said.