Kerala Assembly Elections 2026: A. Suresh joins Congress, named UDF candidate in Malampuzha

A. Suresh, former personal assistant to Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI(M)] Chief Minister VS Achuthanandan joined the Congress on Tuesday. Immediately after his official entry into the Congress, he was declared the United Democratic Front (UDF) candidate in Malampuzha.

District Congress Committee (DCC) president A. Thankappan invited Mr. Suresh to the party at an event held in Palakkad.

Mr. Suresh was expelled from the CPI(M) 13 years ago after the party found him responsible for leaking information about party factionalism. Although he insisted that he was not affiliated with any group and denied the allegations against him, the CPI(M) leadership refused to accept him back into the party.

A few weeks ago, he took part in the Puthuyuga Yatra led by Opposition Leader VD Satheesan and the Congress offered him the Malampuzha seat. Although he said he would remain independent, Congress workers in his constituency insisted he object to the party’s hand symbol.

After joining the Congress, Mr. Suresh said he was proud to be a member of the country’s largest democratic and secular party. He alleged that there were deep divisions within the CPI(M) and said many committed leaders had left the party.

Among those who attended the event were Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) general secretary C. Chandran, Indian National Trade Union Congress (INTUC) district president SK Ananthakrishnan, DCC general secretary V. Ramachandran, block presidents Radhakrishnan and PK Vasu, Youth Congress State secretary Vinod Cherad and Malampuzha UDF president K. Koyakkutty.