All India Congress Committee (AICC) general secretary KC Venugopal reportedly told the Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) leadership meeting that potential party candidates who fail in the 2026 assembly elections will not be offered second chances or posts.
According to party sources, Mr. Venugopal termed the polls as an existential struggle. He said that merit will play a major role in the selection of candidates.
Sources said they could not comment on whether the meeting contemplated involving Congress MPs in the parliamentary polls to improve the United Democratic Front’s (UDF) chances of victory. However, they said the incumbent Congress MLAs have a better chance of holding the gauntlet on their home turf, except perhaps in the Palakkad Assembly segment.
They said the Congress could provide the allowance to the leaders if they ask to stay out of the fray.
In the meeting, party booth committees were asked to conduct home visits and engage voters in door-to-door talks to ensure votes in favor of the UDF in the 2026 assembly elections.
Mr. Venugopal chaired the meeting which proposed an eight-day campaign as a counterweight to the Left Democratic Front’s (LDF) program at the household level, which involved top officials including ministers.
Congressional officials would oversee the door-to-door campaign.
Published – 16 Feb 2026 21:58 IST