With the Kerala Assembly elections approaching, the Congress party is witnessing a surge in activity as leaders and aspirants vie for party tickets. Party offices in Thiruvananthapuram and New Delhi are already bustling with preparations, even before the Election Commission announces the poll schedule. Aspirants are actively lobbying and striving to secure seats in the upcoming elections.
The pre-election fervor within the Congress party in Kerala is unfolding, a scenario that observers liken to the predictable onset of the monsoon. Candidate selection in the party often plays out as a public contest rather than a closed-door affair, with numerous leaders, both seasoned and new, openly expressing their aspirations. This dynamic has left party workers intrigued and on edge.
Several prominent figures, including former Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee president K. Sudhakaran, Lok Sabha MP, and others like Deepthi Mary Varghese, Babu Divakaran, N. Sakthan, and Palode Ravi, are actively vying for party tickets. The stakes are high as the Congress, currently holding 22 seats in the 140-member Assembly, anticipates changes this election season.
In the upcoming polls, the Congress is likely to contest approximately 90 seats, allocating the remainder to its allies in the United Democratic Front. This distribution has sparked intense lobbying efforts, with hopefuls publicly asserting their claims, sometimes even before formal discussions by the party leadership commence. Attention has now shifted to New Delhi, where senior leaders are working to finalize a candidate list that minimizes internal discord.
Despite the buzz surrounding candidate selection, a senior Congress leader remains unperturbed, emphasizing that a vibrant party is one where voices are heard. Leader of Opposition V. D. Satheesan has urged the media to await the official candidate announcement, emphasizing that the party’s final list will be disclosed post the election declaration. As the state gears up for the Assembly polls, internal discussions and debates continue within the party ranks.
