Kerala Assembly polls: KPCC cracks whip on premature candidate declarations by leaders

KPCC warns leaders against premature candidate declarations and coalition seat-sharing, emphasizing adherence to party screening processes.

The Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) on Tuesday (March 10, 2026) cracked the whip on party leaders jumping the gun on candidate selection for the State Assembly elections.

In a terse statement, KPCC president Sunny Joseph said public declarations of candidature and premature proclamations on coalition seat-sharing would invite disciplinary action. 

Mr. Joseph’s ultimatum assumed political significance against the backdrop of former KPCC president K. Sudhakaran “declaring” his candidature from Kannur on Monday, allegedly putting himself ahead of the All India Congress Committee (AICC), which is reportedly grappling with the vexed question of whether to allow sitting MPs to contest in the Assembly elections.

Mr. Sudhakaran had caused a stir by insisting that he would contest from Kannur. “110%, I will fight the Assembly elections from Kannur. Let the Central Election Screening Committee’s decision come,” he had said.

A Congress insider said the KPCC could ill afford to turn a blind eye to premature declarations of candidacy, bypassing the party’s screening process.

He said the KPCC feared that such explicit assertions risked opening a Pandora’s box of factionalism and one-upmanship, undermining efforts to present a united face at the hustings and potentially rendering the party vulnerable to outside pressure, including from caste and religious lobbyists.