Even as the Congress is aggressively engaged in preparing the list of candidates, the party’s allies in the United Democratic Front (UDF), including key partners such as the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) and the PJ Joseph-led Kerala Congress (KC), seem disillusioned with the inordinate delay in finalizing seat-sharing and seat-swapping arrangements for the upcoming assembly elections.
The protracted stalemate has now raised concerns not only among rank-and-file but also senior officials of these parties about the foundation of the coalition in the campaign. They fear that the lack of a coherent strategy is wasting crucial time and allowing the CPI(M)-led Left Democratic Front (LDF) to gain a decisive lead in the polls.
While there have been several rounds of discussions between the Congress and some allies like the IUML, sources said “serious and structured” talks with others have yet to begin.
Within the IUML, senior leaders acknowledge that talks, mostly focused on seat swapping, have been held with the Congress and that some arrangements have emerged. “However, further agreement is required. The delay is affecting grassroots preparations,” said a senior IUML functionary.
However, IUML state general secretary PMA Salam maintained a more diplomatic stance and ensured that anxiety did not spill over into the public sphere. “Neither front has completed seat-sharing talks yet,” he said, trying to downplay fears of a delay.
In the 2021 parliamentary polls, the IUML was allotted 27 seats but contested only 25, with two ceding to the Independents. This year, the party is favoring victory through a strategic exchange of constituencies with the Congress, targeting seats where the alliance struggled to win in earlier elections.
The Kerala Congress (KC) has been more vocal in its criticism. “No formal engagement has been initiated even now,” said a State Committee member close to party president PJ Joseph.
“The Congress is flying the kite with the idea of taking over the seats that we contested last time. The Congress leadership insists that discussions must wait until the Puthuyuga Yatra led by Leader of the Opposition VD Satheesan is over,” he said.
The leader urged the Congress to show political magnanimity, just as the CPI(M) had already publicly pledged to respect the existing seats of its allies.
Despite the existing unease among the allies, Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee president Sunny Joseph claimed that seat-sharing talks in the assembly polls are progressing steadily. “There is no strict time frame and the pact will be finalized before the election is officially announced,” he told The Hindu.
As of now, the UDF has officially announced only one candidate – PV Anvar, former Nilambur MLA, who contested the 2021 polls on the LDF platform but has now switched to the UDF camp to contest from the Beypore constituency in Kozhikode.
Published – 02 March 2026 20:25 IST
