 The byelection was necessitated by the demise of the sitting MP, Xavier Arackal.In 1998, he unsuccessfully contested against George Eden, conceding a margin of nearly 75,000 votes.In the same year, in the byelections to the Assembly (caused by the resignation of George Eden who was the sitting MLA) from the Ernakulam constituency, Mr. Paul defeated Leno Jacob of the Congress and was a member of the Assembly for three years.