Congress likely to release first list of candidates on March 1

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Congress party is likely to announce its first phase candidate list on March 1. The election screening committee will meet in Delhi on that day. With the committee’s approval, the announcement is expected to be made the same day.

The Puthuyuga Yatra led by Opposition Leader V.D. Satheesan will have a break on Sunday, March 1. The Opposition Leader, KPCC President Sunny Joseph, UDF Convener Adoor Prakash, and Congress Working Committee members from Kerala will reach Delhi. The list to be released is expected to include sitting MLAs and Congress candidates contesting in reserved seats. The candidate list for all districts has already been submitted to the AICC leadership based on discussions with DCC presidents and various survey reports. The remaining candidates will most likely be announced only after the Puthuyuga Yatra concludes on March 7. By then, seat-sharing among alliance partners is also expected to be finalised.

Seat-sharing discussions with most allies, except Kerala Congress (Joseph), have almost reached a consensus. The only pending issue with the Muslim League is related to the Thiruvambady seat. An agreement has been reached with the RSP on four seats. As the RSP softened its demand to exchange Attingal for another seat, a consensus has been reached on the Chavara, Kunnathur, Eravipuram, and Attingal constituencies. A final decision is yet to be taken on Mattannur, where they had contested earlier. Forward Bloc and CMP have also been brought on board.

Talks with Kerala Congress are currently stalled as the Congress insists on getting the Idukki and Kuttanad seats. Kerala Congress considers these seats a matter of prestige, even though it did not win in both constituencies in the last election. In Kuttanad, Congress highlights its strong performance in the local body elections, including gains in panchayats like Kainady. Congress leaders remain hopeful that the issue will be resolved before March 7.