IUML candidate list: Kunhalikutty shifts to Malappuram; no seat for Muneer; two women to contest
Kozhikode: Panakkad Sadiqali Shihab Thangal has officially announced the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) candidate list for the 2026 Kerala Assembly elections, introducing several high-profile shifts. In a major move, former Minister M K Muneer has been dropped from the list, while P K Kunhalikutty shifts to the Malappuram constituency.
In a first for the party, two women have been fielded: Fathima Thahliya will contest from Perambra, and Dalit League leader Jayanthi Rajan will fight in Koothuparamba. Firebrand leader K M Shaji has been assigned the party’s stronghold of Vengara.
The party is retaining nine sitting MLAs while replacing six others with fresh faces, including several youth leaders. Candidates for two additional seats—Chelakkara and either Punalur or Chadayamangalam—will be announced on Thursday.
IUML full list
| Candidate | Constituency | |
| 1 | A K M Ashraf | Manjeshwaram |
| 2 | Kallatra Mahin Haji | Kasaragod |
| 3 | Karim Cheleri | Azhikode |
| 4 | Jayanthi Rajan | Koothuparamba |
| 5 | Parakkal Abdulla | Kuttiady |
| 6 | Fathima Thahliya | Perambra |
| 7 | Faisal Babu | Kozhikode South |
| 8 | M A Razak | Kunnamangalam |
| 9 | P K Firoz | Koduvally |
| 10 | C K Kasim | Thiruvambady |
| 11 | T P Ashraf Ali | Kondotty |
| 12 | P K Basheer | Eranad |
| 13 | M Rahmathullah | Manjeri |
| 14 | Najeeb Kanthapuram | Perinthalmanna |
| 15 | Manjalamkuzhi Ali | Mankada |
| 16 | P K Kunhalikutty | Malappuram |
| 17 | K M Shaji | Vengara |
| 18 | T V Ibrahim | Vallikkunnu |
| 19 | P M A Sameer | Tirurangadi |
| 20 | P K Nawas | Tanur |
| 21 | Kurukkoli Moideen | Tirur |
| 22 | Abid Hussain Thangal | Kottakkal |
| 23 | N Samsudheen | Mannarkkad |
| 24 | C H Rasheed | Guruvayur |
| 25 | V E Abdul Gafoor | Kalamassery |