‘Party will decide whether I contest in Nemom or not’: Kerala minister V Sivankutty

Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala General Education Minister V Sivankutty clarified on Monday that he has not made any decision regarding contesting the Nemom Assembly constituency, emphasising that the matter is for the party to decide.

In a statement, Sivankutty said reports suggesting about becoming candidate in Nemom were misleading. “I cannot make this decision on my own. The party will decide whether I contest in Nemom or not. No discussions have taken place regarding candidates, so there is no reason to speculate,” he said.

He urged media and political commentators not to create confusion. “The state committee has not made any decision, so how can I comment on something that has not been decided?” Sivankutty added.

He also asserted that the Left Democratic Front (LDF) would field a strong candidate in Nemom and dismissed suggestions of a BJP comeback in the constituency. “The BJP’s account has been closed here. There is no possibility of opening it,” he said.

Sivankutty has previously contested the Nemom constituency on behalf of the CPM in 2011, 2016, and 2021, losing only in 2016. The BJP, which made history with O Rajagopal’s win in 2016, failed to retain the seat in 2021, despite fielding Kummanam Rajasekharan. Sivankutty reclaimed the constituency for the CPM in that election.

Ahead of the 2026 Assembly polls, the BJP is making a strong bid to regain Nemom, buoyed by its performance in the Lok Sabha elections and recent local body polls. The contest in Nemom is expected to be highly competitive, with the BJP confident of its chances given its lead in the constituency in previous elections.