Thiruvananthapuram, February 27 – The Congress is planning to re-nominate 20 out of its 22 current MLAs in Kerala. This is because Leader of the Opposition V.D. Satheesan and KPCC president Sunny Joseph are scheduled to travel to New Delhi on Sunday to finalize the initial list of candidates for the upcoming Assembly elections.
Party sources indicated that the initial list, expected shortly after consultations with the central leadership, will largely feature current legislators, signaling continuity and organizational stability within the state unit.
The names are likely to be cleared in phases, with the first list including 20 incumbents and candidates in constituencies where there is only a single aspirant who enjoys the backing of the national leadership.
Two sitting MLAs are not expected to be on the list.
Six-time legislator K. Babu has informed the party high command that he does not wish to be considered for another electoral contest.
The other is expelled MLA Rahul Mamkootathil, against whom three separate rape cases have been registered. He was remanded to judicial custody in one of the cases.
In the 2021 elections to the 140-member Kerala Legislative Assembly, the Congress contested 95 seats, allocating the remaining constituencies to its United Democratic Front (UDF) allies.
A similar seat-sharing arrangement is expected this time as well, though formal discussions with allies are still underway.
The consultations in Delhi are significant as the Congress seeks to project unity and decisiveness amid heightened political activity in the state.
By moving early to clear the majority of its sitting MLAs, the party appears keen to minimize internal dissent and provide candidates adequate time to consolidate their local organizational networks.
Meanwhile, the feeder organizations of the Indian National Congress – the student, youth, women’s, and professional wings, besides the diaspora unit – have submitted their respective lists of aspirants to the leadership.
With the election schedule approaching, the phased announcement strategy is aimed at balancing continuity with tactical adjustments in select constituencies.