New Delhi: The Congress party has finalised its candidates for all 95 seats it is contesting in the upcoming Kerala Assembly elections, Leader of the Opposition in the state Assembly, V.D. Satheesan, announced on Thursday.

Speaking to ANI, Satheesan said the party had already declared 55 candidates earlier this week, with the remaining 40 now confirmed. “The selection of candidates is over, and we are moving forward with campaigning,” he added, noting that all issues regarding candidate selection have been resolved.

Satheesan acknowledged that there would be disappointed members who did not receive tickets, but emphasised that the party would support and protect them. He also dismissed reports of internal unrest or dissatisfaction from MPs K Sudhakaran and Adoor Prakash as “media creation,” and rejected claims that the candidate selection process had been delayed, explaining that it took extra time due to the chairman of the screening committee being unwell.

Earlier, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi met with the party’s Central Election Committee (CEC) for Puducherry, chaired by Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, to strategise ahead of the Union Territory’s Assembly elections. Gandhi, in a post on Facebook, said the meeting at Indira Bhawan in New Delhi focused on strengthening the party and shaping a roadmap reflecting the aspirations of the people of Puducherry. Senior leaders including Kharge, Gandhi, Congress general secretary K.C. Venugopal, and other officials were present.

The meetings come as the Election Commission of India announced schedules for Assembly elections in several states and Union Territories. Voting in Puducherry and Kerala will take place on 9 April, West Bengal will hold polls in two phases on 23 and 29 April, Assam will vote on 9 April, and Tamil Nadu on 23 April. Counting for all four states and Puducherry is scheduled for 4 May.

Congress had previously been under pressure from MPs K Sudhakaran and Adoor Prakash, who were seeking tickets for Kannur and Konni constituencies, respectively. Satheesan said the party selection process balanced competing interests and emphasised that the full candidate list would be announced soon, bringing clarity to any speculation about internal disagreements.

The announcement finalises Congress’s preparations for campaigning in Kerala, while strategic meetings in Puducherry signal the party’s coordinated approach to multiple state polls.