VD Satheesan | Photo credit: THULASI KAKKAT
Kerala Leader of Opposition VD Satheesan on Thursday (March 19, 2026) said the United Democratic Front (UDF) will announce its candidates for all 140 Assembly constituencies in the state later in the day.
Speaking to reporters at the Kochi airport after his return from Delhi, where he attended the Congress central election committee meeting, Mr. Satheesan said the party had already cleared 95 names, which would also be released later in the day.
However, he refused to publish the individual names, pointing out that the list is held by the Central Electoral Committee and will be published when the party chairman signs it.
When asked about MP K. Sudhakaran’s candidature, Mr. Satheesan dismissed it as “media speculation”. He added that he remained in constant touch with Mr. Sudhakaran, noting that “communication between leaders in positions of responsibility was routine”, especially in the run-up to elections.
“For the first time in the history of Congress in Kerala, 95 candidates have been finalized within 48 hours. Never before has the party announced so many names in two days.” he said.
He urged the media to focus instead on what he described as an “unprecedented revolt within the CPI(M).
“CPM and LDF are yet to finalize their lists. We have completed all 140 seats without a single discord among UDF cadres. This proves that we are truly ‘Team UDF’,” he said.
He claimed that senior CPI(M) leaders across districts have openly attacked the leadership, criticizing the chief minister and the party leadership “more harshly than the opposition” in press conferences. “They are accusing the CPI(M) of nepotism, favoritism and corruption for the last decade. These elections reflect all that. We will bring this government to the court of the people’s conscience. There will be more surprises before and after the elections,” Satheesan said.
Published – 19 March 2026 10:45 AM IST
