THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The list is ready, but time hasn't come to announce it. Candidates have been finalised for 81 seats but their names won't be revealed till Sunday! After five days of intensive discussions in Delhi to decide the candidate, the Congress is yet to reach a final agreement regarding its candidates for the assembly elections. In addition to this, the party seems to be uncertain about its candidate for the Nemom constituency.

Congress' Central Election Committee in New Delhi on Monday said it would announce the full list of candidates for 91 seats tomorrow after deciding on the remaining 10 seats. Till then, the confirmed candidates won't be revealed. While KPCC president Mullappally Ramachandran will remain in Delhi for further discussions, Ramesh Chennithala and Oommen Chandy will return
today.

Mullappally said after the committee meeting that the candidates for the 81 seats had been decided unanimously within an hour, but did not reveal their names. The leaders were not able to give a proper answer when they were quizzed about the Congress candidate who would contest from Nemom, BJP's only sitting seat in the state. With this, there was confusion among the party
workers regarding the candidate.

Despite the leadership announcing that it will decide the candidates earlier, there is strong concern and resentment within the party over the delay in deciding the candidates. The workers are also sceptical of the leadership's claim that the decision was made regarding candidates in 81 seats. The leadership is also alarmed by the public protests in many places over the probable candidates in some seats.

Who will be that strong candidate?

KPCC president Mullappally Ramachandran has reiterated that a strong candidate would contest in Nemom. With the leadership clarifying that MPs won't be contesting in the assembly election, it has become clear that both Shashi Tharoor and K Muraleedharan won't be considered for Nemom. The leadership also said that no candidate will contest from two constituencies.

Final decision on seat division

The leaders also announced that the division of seats within the UDF has been finalized. Apart from Koothuparamba, Perambra and Kongad were given to the Muslim League. Kunnamangalam was given in place of Balussery. The league will compete in Punalur itself as the move to exchange Punalur and Chadayamangalam has been abandoned. Instead of Kaipamangalam, Mattannur was given to RSP.

The Kerala Congress Joseph faction will be given 10 seats, including Thrikaripur. The Janata-John faction was given Malampuzha and the Forward Bloc was given Dharmadom. However, the Forward Bloc has stated that it will not contest in Dharmadom. The CMP will contest from Nenmara. RMP will be supported in Vadakara. Apart from Pala, Elathur was also given to Mani C. Kappan's NCK.