New Delhi, Mar 17 (UNI) Kerala Congress (Thomas) quit the Bharatiya Janata Party-led National Democratic Alliance in the State on Wednesday and merged with Kerala Congress (Joseph) ahead of the Assembly elections starting April 6.

Announcing the decision, party leader PC Thomas accused the BJP of sidelining his party in the allotment of seats.

He said his party has been talking with the other Kerala Congress headed by senior leader PJ Joseph, which is a part of the Congress-led United Democratic Front.

For Thomas, who served as Union minister of State for Law and Justice in the Atal Bihari Vajpayee government, it would be home coming to Kerala Congress.

The merger also helped him as he was offered the second position in the party after chairman Joseph.

Recently, Thomas had failed in his attempt to get the prestigious 'two leaves' symbol of Kerala Congress in a legal battle.

Kerala Congress (M) led by Jose K. Mani, whose party is now an ally of the CPI-M led Left Democratic Front, had managed to get the iconic symbol of the party.

Assembly polls in the state of Kerala are set to be conducted on April 6 and results will be declared on May 2.

UNI JW SRJ