New Delhi/Thiruvananthapuram | The Congress on Tuesday released its first list of candidates for the upcoming Kerala Assembly elections, announcing nominees in 55 of the 92 seats it is contesting after days of internal discussions.
The list, cleared by the party's Central Election Committee, includes 19 sitting MLAs and reflects a mix of senior leaders, organisational figures and new faces. Constituencies where discussions are still ongoing have been left out in this phase.
Key seats such as Aranmula and Chengannur have not been included in the first list. Kannur and Konni also remain undecided, keeping suspense over the possible entry of MPs into the Assembly fray.
Despite indications of interest from senior leaders, no MPs have been fielded in the first phase.
Senior Congress leaders K Sudhakaran and Adoor Prakash were reported to be considering contests, but candidates have not been announced in Kannur and Konni, the constituencies linked to them.
One of the notable aspects of the list is the exclusion of Perumbavoor MLA Eldose Kunnappilly, making him the only sitting legislator left out in the first phase.
Leader of the Opposition V D Satheesan has been renominated from Paravur, while senior leader Ramesh Chennithala will contest from Haripad.
In Kannur district, KPCC Chief Sunny Joseph has been fielded from Peravoor.
Senior leader K Muraleedharan will contest from Vattiyoorkavu in Thiruvananthapuram district, while former MP T N Prathapan has been nominated from Manalur.
Youth Congress state president O J Janeesh has been fielded from Kodungallur.
The list also includes candidates from organisational backgrounds.
Malappuram DCC president V S Joy will contest from Thavanur, while Palakkad DCC president T Thankappan has been nominated from Nenmara.
Actor Ramesh Pisharody has been fielded from Palakkad. The seat had earlier been won by Rahul Mamkootathil, who was later expelled from the party following a sexual harassment case.
Several sitting MLAs have been renominated, including Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan (Kottayam), Anwar Sadath (Aluva) and Roji M John (Angamaly).
In Puthuppally, Chandy Oommen has been renominated after his bypoll victory from the constituency.
Among women candidates, Uma Thomas (Thrikkakara), Shanimol Usman (Aroor), Bindhu Krishna (Kollam) and Ramya Haridas (Chirayinkeezhu-SC) have been included.
The party has also announced candidates in several reserved constituencies, including Mananthavady (ST), Sulthanbathery (ST), Balusseri (SC), Wandoor (SC) and Nattika (SC).
New faces in the list include K M Abhijith (Nadapuram) and K Praveen Kumar (Quilandy). Aryadan Shoukath, who won the Nilambur bypoll, has been renominated from the key seat.
Idukki (Kerala) | Kerala Congress (J) Chairman P J Joseph, a 10-time MLA and the oldest member of the previous Kerala Assembly, has opted out of the April 9 polls, paving the way for his son's entry into politics.
With the KC (J) releasing its candidates' list on Tuesday, Apu John Joseph, his son, has been fielded from Thodupuzha, the home turf of Joseph, marking a clear generational shift in the party.
The exit of the 84-year-old veteran, who had held significant ministerial portfolios in both the LDF and UDF governments during the past decades, brings the curtains down on a legendary parliamentary career spanning over five decades.
Party sources, however, indicate that Joseph would continue to steer the party even as he steps away from electoral politics.
A prominent Kerala Congress faction, KC(J), is a dominant force in the Christian-dominated central Kerala belt.
A prominent figure in Kerala politics, P J Joseph, began his political journey in 1968 through the Kerala Congress and first entered the state Assembly in 1970.
He has represented the Thodupuzha constituency 10 times in the House, underlining his strong political base in the region.
The leader went on to hold several ministerial portfolios, including Home, over several decades.
During the late 1970s, he had parted ways with veteran leader late K M Mani to form his own faction, Kerala Congress (Joseph).
Other candidates announced by the party include Mons Joseph from Kaduthuruthy, Thomas Unniyadan from Irinjalakuda, Vinu Job from Changanassery, Varghese Mamman from Thiruvalla, Shibu Thekkumpuram from Kothamangalam, Reji Cherian from Kuttanad, and Shaji Ottappally from Kanjirappally.
With Joseph opting out, the upcoming Assembly election marks the culmination of an eventful legislative saga of one of Kerala’s seasoned political leaders.
Malappuram(Kerala) | UDF key-constituent IUML on Tuesday announced its list of 25 candidates, including several sitting MLAs and also some new names, for the upcoming assembly elections in Kerala on April 9.
Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) supremo Sadiq Ali Shihab Thangal and other party leaders announced the list, at a press conference held here in the evening, which has two women and does not have the name of M K Muneer, a senior party leader, sitting MLA and former state minister.
Thangal said the names for two more seats -- Chelakkara and Punalur or Chadayamangalam -- will be announced in the next couple of days.
He said that it has to be decided whether IUML will be contesting from Punalur or Chadayamangalam.
The list of 25 candidates includes sitting MLAs P K Kunhalikutty from Malappuram, A K M Ashraf from Manjeshwar, N Samsudheen from Mannarkkad, Najeeb Kanthapuram from Perinthalmanna and Manjalamkuzhi Ali from Mankada.
The newcomers include P K Navaz from Tanur, Jayanthi Rajan from Kuthuparamba, K M Shaji from Vengara and Fathima Thahiliya from Perambra.
Thangal said that the youth have been given a preference among the newcomers in the list.
He also said that the party's state general secretary P M A Salam has indicated his disinclination to contest in the elections.