The Indian National Congress has begun screening candidates for the upcoming Assembly elections in Kerala and Assam, with the first list of nominees for Kerala likely to be announced next week.
Elections to Kerala’s 140-member Assembly are expected to be held in March–April. The Congress plans to contest around 100 seats as part of the United Democratic Front (UDF), which has been out of power for the past decade and is aiming to unseat the ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF).
According to party insiders, the All India Congress Committee (AICC) screening committee, headed by veteran leader Madhusudan Mistry, has started shortlisting names recommended by the state unit. The central election committee is expected to meet soon to finalise the first list of candidates.
Party sources said surveys conducted across the state will play a role in candidate selection. While winnability remains the key criterion, the party plans to give preference to youth and women, in line with the social justice approach advocated by Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi, who represented Wayanad in Parliament from 2019 to 2024.
AICC secretary in charge of Kerala, PV Mohan, said the state unit had completed groundwork to identify potential candidates and that the first list would be announced early to boost confidence among party workers. He added that the UDF was optimistic about its prospects, citing its performance in the December 2025 local body elections.
Senior leaders, including AICC general secretary (organisation) KC Venugopal, and observers such as Sachin Pilot, KJ George, and Kanhaiya Kumar, have been reviewing the UDF’s preparedness for the contest.
Observers also raised concerns about the removal of names from voters’ lists across Assembly constituencies. AICC secretary in charge of Kerala, BM Sandeep, said around 24 lakh names had been removed during the special intensive revision, and the state unit had been asked to address the issue before the February 22 deadline for objections.
Meanwhile, the Congress is also preparing for the Assembly elections in Assam, where voting for 126 seats is expected around the same time. The party hopes to challenge the ruling National Democratic Alliance, which has been in power since 2016.
Assam Congress president Gaurav Gogoi said the first list of candidates for the upcoming Assembly elections is likely to be released by the end of this month. He said the party aims to complete the screening process at the earliest.
“We have been asked by the central leadership to ensure that the first list is out by the end of this month,” he said, adding that around 80 candidates are expected to be finalised in the initial phase.
An AICC screening panel led by Priyanka Gandhi Vadra is set to visit Assam to gather ground-level feedback on potential candidates. AICC secretary in charge of Assam, Manoj Chauhan, said that while winnability would remain the primary factor, recommendations from grassroots workers would also be considered.
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