Congress ends days of uncertainty; Kerala Polls full list out following Kannur, Nemom breakthrough
New Delhi: After days of marathon deliberations and internal friction, the Congress party has finally released its complete candidate list for the 2026 Kerala Assembly elections. By announcing the second phase of 37 candidates on Thursday, the party has concluded its selection process for the 95 seats it will contest as part of the United Democratic Front (UDF).
While the LDF and NDA were quicker to hit the campaign trail with their finalized lists, Congress took a more calculated—and at times contentious—approach, particularly regarding high-profile seats like Kannur and Konni.
The Kannur breakthrough and strategic shifts
The biggest headline of the second phase is the resolution of the deadlock in Kannur. Following intense pressure, it has been confirmed that MP K Sudhakaran will not contest. Despite initial hints of running as an independent, Sudhakaran reaffirmed his loyalty to the party after intervention from senior leaders like A K Antony.
Kannur: Former Mayor Adv T O Mohanan has been officially fielded.
Nemom: In the "A-class" triangular battle, K S Sabarinadhan will represent the UDF.
Konni: DCC president Satheesh Kochuparambil gets the nod, despite interest from MP Adoor Prakash.
Aranmula: Youth Congress leader Abin Varkey will face off against Minister Veena George.
Star candidates and major retentions
The first list of 55 candidates set the stage with a mix of seasoned veterans and surprise "star" entries.
Palakkad: In a strategic move following the expulsion of Rahul Mamkootathil, Congress has fielded popular actor Ramesh Pisharody.
Vattiyoorkavu: Senior leader K Muraleedharan returns to the fray in this prestigious Thiruvananthapuram seat.
Puthuppally and Haripad: Sitting MLAs Chandy Oommen and Ramesh Chennithala retain their strongholds.
Opposition leadership: V D Satheesan will lead from the front in Paravur.
Support for rebels and strategic alliances
In a notable tactical shift, Congress has decided not to field its own candidates in four specific constituencies, choosing instead to support independent candidates—three of whom are CPM rebels:
Ambalappuzha: Supporting G Sudhakaran
Taliparamba: Supporting T K Govindan
Ottapalam: Supporting P K Sasi
Payyannur: Supporting V Kunhikrishnan
Complete Congrss candidate list
| District | Constituency | Candidate |
| Kasaragod | Uduma | K Neelakandan |
| Trikaripur | Sandeep Varier | |
| Kannur | Irikkur | Adv Sajeev Joseph |
| Dharmadam | Abdul Rasheed | |
| Thalassery | K P Saju | |
| Peravoor | Adv Sunny Joseph | |
| Kalliasseri | Rajeevan Kappacheri | |
| Kannur | Adv T O Mohanan | |
| Mattannur | Chandran Thillenkeri | |
| Wayanad | Mananthavady (ST) | Usha Vijayan |
| Sulthan Bathery (ST) | I C Balakrishnan | |
| Kalpetta | Adv T Siddique | |
| Kozhikode | Nadapuram | K M Abhijith |
| Quilandy | Adv K Praveen Kumar | |
| Balusseri (SC) | V T Sooraj | |
| Elathur | Vidhya Balakrishnan | |
| Kozhikode North | Adv K Jayanth | |
| Malappuram | Nilambur | Aryadan Shoukath |
| Wandoor (SC) | A P Anil Kumar | |
| Tavanur | V S Joy | |
| Ponnani | Noushad Ali | |
| Palakkad | Thrithala | V T Balram |
| Kongad (SC) | K A Tulasi | |
| Malampuzha | A Suresh | |
| Palakkad | Ramesh Pisharody | |
| Tarur (SC) | K C Subramanian | |
| Chittur | Adv Sumesh Achuthan | |
| Nemmara | T Thankappan | |
| Alathur | K N Febin | |
| Pattambi | T P Shaji | |
| Shoranur | P Harigovindan | |
| Thrissur | Manalur | T N Prathapan |
| Ollur | Adv Shaji J Kodankandath | |
| Thrissur | Rajan J Pallan | |
| Nattika (SC) | Adv Sunil Laloor | |
| Kaipamangalam | T M Nazar | |
| Puthukkad | K M Babu Raj | |
| Chalakudy | Saneesh Kumar Joseph | |
| Kodungallur | O J Janeesh | |
| Kunnamkulam | P T Ajayamohan | |
| Wadakkanchery | Vaisakh Narayanaswami | |
| Ernakulam | Angamaly | Roji M John |
| Aluva | Anwar Sadath | |
| Paravur | V D Satheesan | |
| Ernakulam | T J Vinod | |
| Thrikkakara | Uma Thomas | |
| Kunnathunad (SC) | V P Sajeendran | |
| Muvattupuzha | Dr Mathew Kuzhalnadan | |
| Perumbavoor | Manoj Moothedan | |
| Vypin | Tony Chammany | |
| Kochi | Muhammed Shiyas | |
| Tripunithura | Deepak Joy | |
| Idukki | Devikulam (SC) | A Raja |
| Udumbanchola | Adv Senapathi Venu | |
| Idukki | Roy K Paulose | |
| Peerumade | Adv Cyriac Thomas | |
| Kottayam | Vaikom (SC) | K Binimon |
| Kottayam | Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan | |
| Puthuppally | Chandy Oommen | |
| Ettumanoor | Nattakom Suresh | |
| Kanjirappally | Prof Rony K Baby | |
| Poonjar | Sebastian M J | |
| Alappuzha | Aroor | Shanimol Usman |
| Cherthala | K R Rajendran Prasad | |
| Haripad | Ramesh Chennithala | |
| Mavelikkara (SC) | Adv Muthu Raj | |
| Alappuzha | A D Thomas | |
| Kayamkulam | M Liju | |
| Chengannur | Aby Kuriakose | |
| Pathanamthitta | Ranni | Pazhakulam Madhu |
| Aranmula | Abin Varkey | |
| Konni | Satheesh Kochuparambil | |
| Adoor (SC) | Shanthakumar | |
| Kollam | Karunagappally | C R Mahesh |
| Kottarakkara | Adv Aisha Potty | |
| Pathanapuram | Jyothikumar Chamakkala | |
| Kundara | P C Vishnunadh | |
| Kollam | Adv Bindu Krishna | |
| Chathannoor | Sooraj Ravi | |
| Chadayamangalam | M M Naseer | |
| T'Puram | Chirayinkeezhu (SC) | Ramya Haridas |
| Vattiyoorkavu | K Muraleedharan | |
| Kovalam | M Vincent | |
| Varkala | Varkala Kahar | |
| Nedumangad | Meenankal Kumar | |
| Vamanapuram | Sudheersha Palode | |
| Kazhakoottam | T Saratchandra Prasad | |
| Nemom | K S Sabarinadhan | |
| Aruvikkara | V S Sivakumar | |
| Kattakkada | M R Baiju | |
| Parassala | Neyyattinkara Sanal | |
| Neyyattinkara | N Sakthan |