The fate of Forest and Wildlife Minister AK Saseendran and his efforts to contest the Elathur seat in Kozhikode in the Kerala Assembly elections for the fourth term now rests with the Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar) (NCP(SP)) central leadership, which is expected to reach a decision soon.
With the party’s Kozhikode district committee and most of its local mandalam committees opposed to his nomination, and the state leadership seemingly divided over the veteran leader’s ambitions, the final decision has been referred to the party’s national executive, an NCP(SP) state committee member told The Hindu.
As in the 2021 polls when he faced a similar situation, Mr. Saseendran maneuvered to retain his candidature by securing the support of Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and eventually the then NCP chief Sharad Pawar.
Party sources said the state unit has prepared a panel of three names for consideration by the central leadership for Elathur seat: Mr Saseendran, NCP(SP) Kozhikode district president Mukkom Mohammed and party state working president PM Suresh Babu.
Discussion inconclusive
The decision to refer the matter to the central leadership was taken after the NCP(SP) state election committee meeting held earlier this week failed to reach a consensus on the candidate for Elathur. When Mr. Mohammed’s name was raised and some members suggested that Mr. Saseendran step aside this time to give others an opportunity, the veteran leader and his supporters reportedly walked out of the meeting, leaving the discussions inconclusive.
“Party state president Thomas K. Thomas will hold detailed discussions with the central leadership on the three names. The candidate for Elathur will be announced accordingly,” he said.
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.
Meanwhile, a top party functionary dismissed reports that the Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPI(M)) was considering taking over the Elathur seat due to infighting in the NCP(SP), calling it “mere rumours”.
In the 2021 assembly elections, the party contested Kuttanadu and Kottakkala seats apart from Elathur. While the NCP (SP) has almost finalized the candidature of sitting MLA Mr. Thomas from Kuttanad, it is likely to exchange the Kottakkal seat for the Malappuram constituency.
Published – 13 March 2026 19:49 IST
