Published Mar 18, 2026 | 8:15 AM ⚊ Updated Mar 18, 2026 | 8:15 AM
VD Satheesan, Remya Haridas, Aisha Potty, Chandy Oomen and K Muraleedharan.
Synopsis: The Congress has released its first list of candidates for 55 of the 92 seats it will contest in the Kerala Assembly elections, retaining most sitting MLAs but leaving several key constituencies undecided. The party has held back candidates in traditional strongholds and other sensitive seats as internal lobbying continues.
With weeks to go before the Kerala Assembly polls, the Congress has released its first list of candidates for 55 of the 92 seats it will contest as part of the UDF. The list, released on the evening of Tuesday, 17 March, includes 19 sitting Congress MLAs.
But despite recent public calls from several of the party’s MPs for tickets, none are in the list.
The party has named candidates for only a handful of seats in Kottayam and Thiruvananthapuram districts. Notably, it has yet to name a single candidate in its traditional bastions of Idukki and Pathanamthitta, or in Kasaragod.
A second list, expected soon, is set to include some surprise entries. While many nominees have already started campaigning, others are still in talks with the party’s central leadership in Delhi.
Central Kerala, a key focus
Central Kerala districts—Pathanamthitta, Kottayam, Alappuzha, Idukki, Ernakulam and Thrissur—have long been considered UDF strongholds. But the coalition has struggled in the region over the past two Assembly elections.
Across 55 seats in these districts, the UDF won just 16 in 2021, down from 20 in 2016. When it came to power in 2011, it had won 30 seats in the region.
In the last Assembly election, the UDF won convincingly only in Ernakulam. It failed to win any seat in Pathanamthitta and secured only one in Idukki. In Kottayam, it won four of nine seats. In Thrissur, it won just one of 13.
Even so, the party sees the region as key to its bid to return to power after a decade in opposition.
Election strategist Sunil Kanugolu earlier submitted a report that identified vulnerabilities in the UDF and set out ways to strengthen both the party and the coalition.
Support from the Christian community is pivotal in these districts.
Thiruvananthapuram is also key for the Congress. Of its 14 constituencies, the party has named candidates for three so far. Decisions are still pending for key seats such as Nemom, where BJP leader Rajeev Chandrasekhar is contesting.
Key seats undecided amid internal lobbying
Decisions on several key Assembly seats remain pending. Kannur and Konni, claimed by MPs K Sudhakaran and Adoor Prakash, have not been finalised as the Congress maintains its stance against fielding sitting MPs.
G Sudhakaran and K Sudhakaran.
Alappuzha also remains undecided, fuelling speculation over KC Venugopal’s possible entry despite his earlier statement that he would not contest. Ambalappuzha, a crucial seat, is still vacant.
In Ambalappuzha, a Congress dissident is contesting as an Independent against CPI(M) MLA H Salam, while the BJP has fielded Arun Anirudhan as the NDA candidate.
The UDF is expected to back Sudhakaran, as it believes a direct contest with the CPI(M) could help the front not only in Ambalappuzha but across other Alappuzha constituencies. This has caused unrest within the Congress, with KPCC general secretary MJ Job resigning.
Kozhikode MP MK Raghavan, who is also seeking an Assembly ticket, met Sudhakaran immediately after the list was released.
Local leaders say denying Sudhakaran a ticket could hurt the party’s prospects in Kannur, especially in Peravoor, where KPCC chief Sunny Joseph is contesting.
The Congress has also left Aranmula and Konni in Pathanamthitta undecided.
In Aranmula, where the CPI(M) has fielded Minister Veena George, the Congress needs a strong candidate. Adoor Prakash wants to contest from Konni, but the decision is still pending.
In Chengannur (Alappuzha), the CPI(M) has fielded Minister Saji Cherian. Oommen Chandy’s daughter, Maria Oommen, has sought a ticket here. Chandy Oommen said he has not expressed any dissatisfaction over media reports on her candidature.
Meanwhile, her husband, Varghese George, has entered the fray from Kodungallur as a Twenty20 candidate.
The Congress has also yet to finalise candidates for Thaliparamba and Payyannur in Kannur, and Ottappalam in Palakkad.
Most incumbents retained, Kunnappilly dropped
The party has largely retained its sitting MLAs in the first list. Leaders such as Sunny Joseph, VD Satheesan, Ramesh Chennithala, Chandy Oommen, Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan, Roji M John, Uma Thomas, Mathew Kuzhalnadan, Sajeev Joseph, Anwar Sadath, TJ Vinod, PC Vishnunath, AP Anil Kumar, Saneesh Kumar Joseph and M Vincent have been renominated and will contest again.
Eldho Kunnapilli with senior Congress leaders. Photo: South First
But the list leaves out several names. Along with Rahul Mamkootathil and K Babu, Perumbavoor MLA Eldhose Kunnappilly has been denied a ticket. Seen as a close associate of Ramesh Chennithala, he was dropped despite the senior leader urging the high command to retain him.
Party sources say the decision stems from both the sexual harassment case against Kunnappilly and local community equations.
Church groups have sought greater representation for the Syro-Malabar community in Perumbavoor, where the Jacobite community has traditionally held sway.
The party is weighing two options. Ullas Thomas is from the Jacobite community, like Kunnappilly. Manoj Moothedam is linked to the Syro-Malabar Church.
Palakkad pick sparks dissent, Sandeep Warrier left out
The Congress’s choice of actor-director Ramesh Pisharody for Palakkad is leaving local cadres discontent, with some in the party saying it is boosting the BJP’s winnability. The seat, long seen as a UDF stronghold but with growing RSS–BJP influence, was won by former Youth Congress president Rahul Mamkoottathil in the 2024 by-election.
The by-poll followed the vacancy created when Shafi Parambil moved to the Lok Sabha. Mamkoottathil, who is facing multiple allegations of sexual abuse, was expelled in August 2025.
Ramesh Pisharody
The BJP has fielded Sobha Surendran, known for increasing her party’s vote share in the seats she contests. But the absence of East district president Prasanth Sivan from her campaign suggests internal dissent.
The CPI(M), like the Congress, may field a non-political face in businessman NMR Rasaq after P Sarin opted out.
Elsewhere, the Congress has named Aisha Potty for Kottarakkara. She joined from the CPI(M) after three decades and had represented the seat for three terms.
In Malampuzha, A Suresh, a former CPI(M) leader who was expelled earlier, joined the Congress on 17 March and will contest.
Sandeep Warrier, who switched from the BJP to the Congress, is being left out. Instead, VS Joy will contest Thavanur in Malappuram despite earlier indications that Warrier could be fielded.
Amid complaints to the AICC, the Congress is picking former MP Ramya Haridas for Chirayinkeezhu in Thiruvananthapuram. Local leader Ajith Kumar, who was in contention, told South First that MP Adoor Prakash backed Haridas, leaving many local leaders unhappy.
In Kollam, Chathannoor—earlier allotted to the Forward Bloc—is now being contested by the Congress. Youth Congress leader Sooraj Ravi will be the candidate, while CK Janu has not been given a ticket.
