In the churn triggered by a fierce anti-incumbency wave, theKerala Congress story this time has split into two sharply contrasting arcs, with Jose K. Mani’s camp grappling with a bruising rejection even as P.J. Joseph’s faction scripts a striking comeback.

Banking on Kerala Congress (M) [KC(M)] led by Jose K. Mani, the Left Democratic Front (LDF) had sought to bridge its gap with the Catholic community in central Travancore and pinned its hopes on a clutch of seats. Those expectations, however, have been swept aside by the entrenched anti Left sentiment in the region.