Thiruvananthapuram: The Congress printed its preliminary candidate checklist for the Kerala state elections Tuesday, saying names from 55 meeting constituencies, amid criticism from opponents over delays.

This doesn’t embrace Kannur, which ex-chief of Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee and Lok Sabha MP Okay. Sudhakaran has repeatedly proven an curiosity in contesting.

Incumbent MLA and Chief of Opposition V.D. Satheesan will contest from his dwelling turf of Paravoor in Ernakulam district. Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee chief Sunny Joseph will contest the seat he’s presently representing—Peravoor in Kannur district. Peravoor is anticipated to see a fierce battle between Joseph and CPI(M) chief Okay.Okay. Shailaja this time.

One other senior Congress chief, Ramesh Chennithala, may even try and retain his seat, the Harippad meeting constituency.

In Thiruvananthapuram’s Vattiyoorkavu, Okay. Muraleedharan is up in opposition to Communist Social gathering of India (Marxist) chief V.Okay. Prashant, the incumbent MLA, and BJP chief and retired IPS officer R. Sreelekha.

The Congress has fielded widespread tv star Ramesh Pisharody in Palakkad, changing Rahul Mamkootathil. The actor will contest in opposition to BJP chief Sobha Surendran in Palakkad, one other key seat. Each the nationwide events contemplate Palakkad necessary, and it’s anticipated to be some of the tight contests in Kerala.

The Congress has been dealing with many controversies in Palakkad over the previous yr, after a number of sexual assault instances have been lodged in opposition to Mamkootathil, who has since been expelled from the social gathering.

P. Aisha Potty, who just lately switched from the CPI(M) to Congress, has been fielded in opposition to incumbent MLA and Kerala Finance Minister Okay.N. Balagopal from the Kottarakkara meeting constituency.

Ex-mayor and Congress chief Rajan Pallan has been fielded in opposition to Okay. Karunakaran’s daughter, Padmaja Venugopal, a former Congress chief who joined the BJP in 2024.

Chandy Oommen, the son of ex-CM Oommen Chandy, will contest from Puthuppally, the seat he presently represents and his late father’s former constituency.

In Malampuzha, a constituency beforehand represented by CPI(M) veteran V.S. Achuthanandan, the Congress has fielded A. Suresh, a former workers member of V.S., who was expelled by the social gathering in 2013 for violating social gathering self-discipline. Suresh joined the Congress simply hours earlier than the checklist was introduced Tuesday.

The preliminary checklist of candidates stands out because the social gathering has averted saying its candidate for Kannur, the place former KPCC chief Okay. Sudhakaran has claimed candidacy.

Sudhakaran, presently the Lok Sabha MP representing the Kannur Lok Sabha constituency, expressed his curiosity in contesting from Kannur via statements at public occasions and social media posts final week. Nonetheless, these have been quickly snubbed by the Kerala Congress management, which mentioned that social gathering functionaries can not announce candidacy on their very own.

Amid such discussions, posters appeared in a number of areas, suggesting help for Sudhakaran in Kannur, whereas the social gathering maintained that its central management would make the ultimate resolution on the candidature.

Comparable posters additionally appeared in Konni, within the dwelling turf of Attingal MP Adoor Prakash. The social gathering, nevertheless, is but to announce its candidate for Konni, as of Tuesday.

(Edited by Madhurita Goswami)

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