Amid former KPCC president and Kannur MP K Sudhakaran expressing his desire to contest the upcoming 2026 Kerala Legislative Assembly election from the Kannur constituency, KC Venugopal, General Secretary of the Indian National Congress, said the final decision on whether sitting MPs can contest the Assembly elections rests with the party’s high command.
Speaking to the media in Thiruvananthapuram on Saturday, Venugopal said the party leadership would take an appropriate call on the issue.
“Some MPs have expressed interest in contesting the Assembly elections. The party leadership will decide on the matter. I have already made it clear that I will not contest,” he said. He added that the candidate selection process in the Congress is progressing faster than usual and will be completed in a timely manner.
Venugopal also dismissed reports suggesting that Sudhakaran was unhappy with the candidate selection process. He said the senior leader’s recent social media post merely reflected his affection for Kannur and the party.
“Expressing an interest in contesting elections is not a crime. Sudhakaran was in Delhi for the entire last week attending the Parliament session and returned to Kannur afterwards. It is natural for leaders to express their opinions. The most important objective is the victory of the UDF in the elections, and everyone will work towards that,” Venugopal said.
Meanwhile, Deepa Das Munshi, another general secretary of the Congress, said the party has not yet taken a final decision on whether sitting MPs will be allowed to contest in the Assembly elections.
Speaking to the media in Kasaragod, Munshi described Sudhakaran as a senior leader with influence not only in Kannur but across Kerala. “He has every right to express his desire to contest the Assembly polls. However, no official discussion has yet taken place with the high command on this matter,” she said.
Munshi also clarified that candidate selection in the Congress would not be determined solely by the sentiments of party workers or supporters.
Leader of Opposition VD Satheesan reiterated that the Congress high command will ultimately decide whether MPs will be fielded in the forthcoming Assembly election.
“No one has been assured of a ticket. The party will decide who should be fielded in the polls. I do not know whether Sudhakaran was given any assurance when he was removed from the post of KPCC president. No one should declare themselves a candidate,” Satheesan said.
Reports suggest that Sudhakaran is dissatisfied with the party leadership’s handling of the Kannur Assembly seat. The senior Congress leader is believed to have been keen on contesting the 2026 election from the constituency and reportedly felt he had earlier been assured a ticket by the high command.
Sudhakaran returned to Kannur from New Delhi earlier than scheduled, skipping candidate-related discussions, reportedly to convey his displeasure over the lack of clarity regarding his candidature.
His supporters have also expressed strong dissatisfaction, with some planning protests against state leaders opposing his candidature.
According to reports, Sudhakaran remains firm in his stand despite attempts by the party leadership to persuade him otherwise. He has reportedly been asked to return to New Delhi for further discussions with the Congress high command on Monday, but his current decision is to stay in Kerala.