UDF to announce candidates for all 140 Kerala Assembly seats today, says V.D. Satheesan

Kerala Opposition Leader VD Satheesan on Thursday, March 19, 2026, said that the United Democratic Front (UDF) will announce its candidates for all 140 Assembly constituencies in the state later in the day.

Speaking to reporters at Kochi airport on his return from Delhi, where he attended the Congress central election committee meeting, Mr. Satheesan said that the party has already cleared 95 names and these will be announced later in the day.

However, he refused to disclose the names of the people, stating that the list was with the central election committee and would be made public after the party chairman signed it.

When asked about MP K. Sudhakaran’s candidacy, Mr. Satheesan termed it as ‘media speculation’. He added that he remained in constant contact with Mr. Sudhakaran and noted that “communication between leaders in responsible positions is routine”, especially in the run-up to the election.

“For the first time in the history of Congress in Kerala, 95 candidates have been finalized within 48 hours. The party has never announced so many names in two days before.” he said.

He urged the media to instead focus on what he described as an “unprecedented rebellion within the CPI(M)”.

“CPM and LDF are yet to finalize their lists. We have completed all 140 seats without a single discordant note among UDF constituents. This proves that we are truly ‘Team UDF’,” he said.

He alleged that senior CPI(M) leaders in the districts were openly challenging the leadership, criticizing the Prime Minister and the party leadership “more harshly than the Opposition” in press conferences. “They are accusing the CPI(M) of nepotism, nepotism and corruption in the last decade. This election will reflect all these. We will judge this government before the conscience of the people. More surprises will emerge before and after the election,” Mr. Satheesan said.