After days of deadlock, the Congress released its final list of 37 candidates for the Kerala Assembly elections late Thursday, bringing the party’s total count to 92. The second list, approved by the AICC high command, arrives amid visible internal friction, most notably from Kannur MP K Sudhakaran, who was denied a ticket. Kannur mayor TO Mohanan has been named the candidate for Kannur, bypassing both Sudhakaran and his recommended nominee, Rijil Makutty.

In Nemom—a seat the BJP is fighting fiercely to reclaim with state chief Rajeev Chandrasekhar—the Congress has deployed Thiruvananthapuram councillor and former MLA KS Sabarinadhan to challenge both the saffron surge and CPM stalwart V Sivankutty. The party has also made strategic placements in other key battlegrounds. Former BJP leader Sandeep Varier will contest from Trikaripur, while VS Sivakumar has been fielded in Aruvikkara.

Further major changes include the exclusion of Eldose P Kunnapillil in Perumbavoor and Adoor Prakash in Konni. Taking their places are Manoj Moothedan and Prof. Satheesh Kochuparambil, respectively.

List of candidates

1. Uduma – K Neelakandan
2. Trikaripur – Sandeep Varier
3. Kalliasseri – Rajeevan Kappachery
4. Kannur – Adv. T O Mohan
5. Mattannur – Chandran Thillenkari
6. Pattambi – T P Shaji
7. Shornur – P Harigovindan
8. Kunnamkulam – Ajay Mohan
9. Wadakkancherry – Vyshakh Narayanaswami
10. Perumbavoor – Manoj Moothedan
11. Vypeen – Tony Chammy
12. Kochi – Mohammad Shiyas
13. Thiruvananthapuram – Deepak Joy
14. Devikulam (SC) – F Raja
15. Udumbanchola – Adv. Senapathy Venu
16. Idukki – Roy K Poulose
17. Peerumade – Adv. Syriac Thomas
18. Ettumanoor – Nattakom Suresh
19. Kanjirappally – Prof. Rony K Baby
20. Poonjar – Sebastian M J (Adv. Saji Joseph)
21. Alappuzha – A D Thomas
22. Kayamkulam – M Liju
23. Chengannur – Eby Kuriakose
24. Ranni – Pazhakulam Madhu
25. Aranmula – Abin Varkey
26. Konni – Prof. Satheesh Kochuparambil
27. Adoor (SC) – Adv. Santhakumar
28. Chadayamangalam – M M Nazeer
29. Varkala – Varkala Kahar
30. Nedumangad – Meenankal Kumar
31. Vamanapuram – Sudheersha Palode
32. Kazhakkootam – Sarathchandra Prasad
33. Nemom – K S Sabarinadhan
34. Aruvikkara – V S Sivakumar
35. Parassala – Sanal
36. Kattakkada – M R Baiju
37. Neyyattinkara – N Shakthan

Sudhakaran's impasse
Kannur MP K Sudhakaran had been camping in Delhi and remained firm on his demand, citing an alleged assurance from the leadership when he stepped down as KPCC president to take up his role as a Lok Sabha MP. After four days of brinkmanship that rattled the Congress, the veteran leader on Thursday stepped back from the edge, declaring he would remain “subservient to the party” and would not contest without its permission -- ending speculation that he would enter the fray as an independent. Despite multiple rounds of discussions, the party’s central election committee failed to reach a consensus on allowing sitting MPs to contest the Assembly elections. AICC president Mallikarjun Kharge is learnt to have reiterated that MPs would not be fielded, a stand that ultimately went against Sudhakaran.

The issue delayed the party’s second list of candidates, which remained pending even after late-night meetings in Delhi. Senior leaders had also pointed out that several MPs were quietly backing Sudhakaran’s demand, even as differences emerged within the party over granting exemptions.

The high command’s refusal to grant exemptions to MPs has also affected leaders such as Adoor Prakash, Kodikunnil Suresh and M K Raghavan, who had expressed interest in contesting.

Meanwhile, senior Congress leader A K Antony said he had urged Sudhakaran to abide by the high command’s decision, however difficult, to ensure the defeat of the ruling CPM-led LDF.

Speaking to reporters, Antony described Sudhakaran as a leader who had fought the Marxists at great personal risk. “I told him that whatever difficulty he faces, he should accept the party’s decision and ensure that they do not get a third term,” Antony said.

Meanwhile, Leader of the Opposition V D Satheesan said on Thursday that all issues related to candidate selection have been resolved. He added that while there would be disappointment among some leaders who were denied tickets, there would be no internal “explosion” within the party. Satheesan, who arrived in Kerala after the completion of the selection process, also took part in a roadshow in his constituency.