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Congress High Command to Decide on MPs Contesting Kerala Polls: Mistry

Congress Screening Committee Chairman Madhusudan Mistry stated that the party's high command will make the final decision on whether sitting MPs can contest the upcoming Kerala Assembly polls. He expressed confidence in the leadership's decision and indicated the candidate list is likely by the end of February. The Screening Committee is examining various factors for candidate selection, while the state leadership concurrently holds seat-sharing talks with UDF allies. The political move is being closely watched as it coincides with Leader of the Opposition V.D. Satheesan's planned statewide yatra.

Key Points: Congress High Command to Decide on Kerala Assembly Poll Candidates

  • High command to decide on MPs contesting
  • Candidate list expected by month-end
  • Screening Committee examining multiple factors
  • Seat-sharing talks with UDF allies underway
2 min read

Congress High Command to decide on MPs contesting Kerala Assembly polls: Mistry

Congress Screening Committee Chairman Madhusudan Mistry says the high command will decide if sitting MPs can contest the upcoming Kerala Assembly elections.

"The Congress high command will take the final call on whether sitting party MPs should contest the upcoming Kerala Assembly elections - Madhusudan Mistry"

Thiruvananthapuram, Feb 4

The Congress high command will take the final call on whether sitting party MPs should contest the upcoming Kerala Assembly elections, Congress Screening Committee Chairman Madhusudan Mistry said here on Wednesday, underlining that the issue involves a larger policy decision.

Mistry expressed confidence that the party leadership would take an appropriate view on the matter and indicated that the Congress candidate list is likely to be released by the end of this month.

He said the Screening Committee would examine multiple factors before finalising candidates and that it would be premature to comment on whether survey reports on sitting MLAs would be a decisive factor.

"Various aspects will be scrutinised in detail during the candidate selection process," he said.

Mistry is in Kerala to chair meetings of the Congress screening committee and to hold consultations with party leaders at different levels.

He is scheduled to meet senior leaders over the next two days.

The state leadership had earlier asked District Congress Committee (DCC) Presidents to submit panels of probable candidates, which will form a key input for the Screening Committee's deliberations.

The high command team led by Mistry had already held discussions with leaders across the state at various organisational levels on his previous visit.

However, it remains to be seen whether the Congress will announce its first list of candidates on or before Friday, the day the Leader of the Opposition V.D. Satheesan is set to embark on a statewide yatra, a move that is being closely watched within political circles.

Alongside the finalisation of the Congress list, the state party leadership has also initiated seat-sharing talks with its allies in the United Democratic Front (UDF).

In the 140-member Kerala Legislative Assembly, the Congress had contested 93 seats in the 2021 Assembly elections.

The IUML had contested 25 seats, the Kerala Congress-M 10, the RSP five, the NCK two, while the Kerala Congress-Jacob, the CMP, and the RMPI contested one seat each.

Two Independents were also supported by the front.

This time, the Forward Bloc is likely to be allotted one seat, while the candidature of two-time former Left-backed independent legislator P.V. Anvar has already been cleared for the Beypore constituency.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

P
Priya S
MPs contesting Assembly polls? Isn't that a step down? They were elected for Parliament. Let them focus on national issues. We need fresh faces in the state assembly who understand local problems like waste management and infrastructure. 🤔
R
Rahul R
Seat-sharing talks are crucial. Last time UDF lost partly due to internal friction. IUML, Kerala Congress-M... all need to feel valued. Mistry sir has a tough job. Hope they finalize the list soon and start campaigning in earnest.
A
Anjali F
With all due respect, this "high command will decide" narrative feels outdated. The local district committees have submitted their panels. Their voice should carry more weight. Too much Delhi control hasn't always worked well for the party in states.
K
Karthik V
Timing the list with Satheesan's yatra is smart politics! Creates momentum. But the candidate quality matters most. Please don't give tickets to those with corruption cases or poor attendance records. We need clean, active representatives. 🙏
M
Meera T
As a voter from Thrissur, I just want someone who will fix our roads and ensure regular water supply. Party politics is fine, but finally we vote for development. Hope the screening committee remembers that.

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