The Kerala Congress is a political party in Kerala, India.The Founder of the party is K M George, from Vazhakulam, Muvattupuzha. The party has its roots in the Indian National Congress. In 1964 Congress Party in Kerala splits and Mannam forms Kerala Congress. The party is traditionally dominated by the Christian minority and Nair Community(KC-B) in the state. The Kerala Congress party system is known for its commitment to the farmers and the rural agrarian sections. The main vote bank of the party is the farming community in Kottayam, Idukki and some other districts.
The Kerala Congress has suffered severe divisions and several parallel outfits have emerged, all claiming the name 'Kerala Congress'. Splinter-groups include Kerala Congress (Mani), Kerala Congress (Balakrishna Pillai), Kerala Congress (Jacob), and Kerala Congress (Secular). The group that has retained the official recognition by the Election Commission of India to the name is the grouping led by P.J. Joseph. Thus it is often called Kerala Congress (Joseph).
The party is a constituent of the Left Democratic Front. In the 2004 Lok Sabha polls, the party won the Idukki seat. The party now has two seats in the Lok Sabha with the merger of P.C. Thomas's Indian Federal Democratic Party. It is a member of the ruling United Progressive Alliance.
The party won 2 seats in 2001 Kerala Legislative Assembly polls. It had fielded 6 candidates ahead of the 2006 Assembly elections, and 4 were successful. P J Joseph, the chairman of KC(Joseph) was sworn in as the minister for Public Works. However, ahead of the polls the party suffered yet another split, with P.C. George forming his own Kerala Congress (Secular). The kerala congress party has its policy dictated by the Christian clergy and is wedded to the notion of well being and commercial interests of the minority Christians of the state. One of the major highlight of the party has been to legitimise the illegal occupation of forest land by the Christian settlers by providing them pattayam.
