The Congress leads the opposition UDF in Kerala, of which the IUML is the second largest constituent. The IUML is fielding two women candidates for the first time in its history.
The UDF is going to the polls on the back of an impressive performance in the local body elections in Kerala last year, as well as bagging 18 out of 20 Lok Sabha seats in the general election in 2024. The LDF returned to power in the 2021 assembly election by winning 99 seats in the 140-member assembly, with the UDF remaining in the opposition with 41 seats.
As per the latest understanding, the Kerala Congress (Joseph) will contest eight seats. The regional party had contested 10 seats in the last assembly election and has settled for two seats less this time. The UDF ally has already announced eight candidates, with founder PJ Joseph opting out of electoral politics after about five decades, making way for his son, Apu John Joseph (53). Not everything, however, has gone down well with a Congress leader announcing his decision to contest as independent from Alappuzha district, protesting after the party conceded the Kuttanad seat to the Joseph faction of the Kerala Congress. The Revolutionary Socialist Party (RSP) contested five seats, just as it did in the last election. The Congress is struggling with disgruntled leaders, as the UDF prepares to cash in on the anti-incumbency the Pinarayi Vijayan-led LDF is battling.
The political parties are racing against time to finalise their candidates and campaign strategies as March 23 is the last date for filing of nominations. Voting for all 140 seats will take place on April 9, and the counting of votes is scheduled for May 4.
