After weeks of factional infighting in the Kozhikode unit of the National Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar) (NCP(SP)) that threatened to derail the re-election bid of party candidate and forest minister AK Saseendran from the Elathur Assembly constituency, the rival factions have decided to put aside their differences and work towards his victory.
The consensus was reached at a meeting of the NCP(SP) district unit attended by the party’s national working president PC Chacko here on Sunday (March 22, 2026).
Mr. Chacko confirmed that there were differences in the selection of candidates in Elathur. He said he had heard NCP(SP) Kozhikode district president Mukkom Mohammed and others and that all issues had been resolved. The party is paramount, Mr. Chacko added.
Meanwhile, Mr Mohammed said the party was united and that all disputes had been settled. He also said that he will be present when Mr. Saseendran files his nomination papers for the Elathur segment on Monday (March 23, 2026).
Earlier, the party’s Kozhikode district committee and most of the mandalam committees had opposed the reappointment of Mr. Saseendran from Elathur. However, another section loyal to the incumbent MLA demanded that he be retained. Opponents of his candidacy argued that the veteran leader should step down this time to give others a chance.
The decision on the NCP(SP) candidate for Elathur was later referred to the central leadership after even the party’s state election committee meeting failed to reach a consensus.
Finally, the party’s Central Parliamentary Board, in consultation with the state unit, announced the candidature of Mr. Saseendran from Elathur last week. Despite the central leadership’s decision, the rift between the two factions continued, necessitating further intervention.
Mr. Saseendran, a two-time minister, contested eight assembly elections and won six times, including three victories from Elathur, a traditional Left bastion. He first contested and won from the constituency in 2011.
Published – 22 March 2026 21:08 IST
