UDF Concludes Seat-Sharing for Kerala Assembly Elections, Congress to Contest 95 Constituencies
In a significant political development, Opposition leader V D Satheesan announced on Tuesday that the United Democratic Front (UDF) has successfully finalized its seat-sharing arrangement for the upcoming Kerala assembly elections. The Congress party will lead the coalition's charge by contesting in 95 constituencies, marking a dominant position within the alliance.
Detailed Allocation of Seats Among UDF Constituents
According to the agreement, the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) has been allotted 27 seats, while the Kerala Congress (Joseph) faction will contest eight seats. The Revolutionary Socialist Party (RSP) has secured five seats in the arrangement. Additionally, several smaller allies have been allocated one seat each, ensuring broad representation within the front.
Smaller allies receiving one seat each include:
- Kerala Congress (Jacob)
- Revolutionary Marxist Party of India (RMPI)
- Communist Marxist Party (CMP)
- Kerala Democratic Party (KDP)
- All India Trinamool Congress (TMC)
Smooth Negotiations and Strategic Seat Exchanges
Satheesan emphasized that the seat-sharing discussions proceeded smoothly and concluded on a positive note, with all constituents reaching a consensus. As part of the strategic adjustments, Kerala Congress (Joseph) has ceded the Idukki and Ettumanoor seats to the Congress party. This faction, which contested 10 seats in the previous assembly elections, has also engaged in seat exchanges with Congress.
Notably, Congress will now contest in Thrikaripur, while Kerala Congress (Joseph) will field its candidate in Kanhangad, reflecting a collaborative approach to optimize electoral prospects.
Candidate Announcements and Retained Seats
The Congress party announced 55 of its candidates on Tuesday, signaling the commencement of campaign preparations. The Revolutionary Socialist Party (RSP) has retained the same number of seats it contested in the last elections, maintaining consistency in its electoral strategy.
RSP's candidates for the upcoming polls are:
- Shibu Baby John (Chavara)
- Ullas Kovur (Kunnathur)
- Vishnu Mohan (Eravipuram)
- Santosh Badhran (Attingal)
Initially, RSP sought to field a fifth candidate in Payyannur but later decided to support CPM rebel V Kunhikrishnan, showcasing tactical flexibility within the alliance.
Key Candidates from Smaller Allies
Among other allies, K K Rema will contest from Vadakara for the Revolutionary Marxist Party of India (RMPI), while Mani C Kappan of the Kerala Democratic Party (KDP) will again be in the fray from Pala. CMP leader C P John will contest from Thiruvananthapuram Central, and P V Anvar of TMC will seek mandate from Beypore.
Anoop Jacob will defend Piravom for Kerala Congress (Jacob), aiming to retain the seat. The front has decided to back G Sudhakaran in Ambalappuzha but is yet to take a final call on extending support to P K Sasi in Ottappalam, indicating ongoing deliberations for optimal coalition strength.
This comprehensive seat-sharing arrangement sets the stage for a highly contested Kerala assembly election, with the UDF positioning itself as a united front against rival political formations.
