The All India Congress Committee (AICC) has directed party leaders in Kerala not to publicly declare their candidature for the upcoming assembly elections and to await formal announcements from the party. The instruction, issued ahead of the poll season, was relayed through the state unit and emphasises that candidate selection will be finalised by the AICC screening committee.
Party sources said the directive was conveyed during meetings in Kannur and flagged as a matter requiring prompt attention. The central leadership asked the Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) to remind senior and veteran leaders across the state that unilateral announcements of intent to contest are not permitted.
AICC candidate directive will centralise selection
The move follows rising instances of senior Congress figures signalling their interest in specific constituencies, particularly in seats where the United Democratic Front (UDF) believed it had strong prospects. Youth Congress activists in the state had protested against public declarations, arguing they created confusion and undermined collective discipline.
In response, the AICC clarified that the authority to decide and announce candidates rests with the party at the national level. A screening committee appointed by the AICC will vet and approve names before any public declaration is made. The central leadership reiterated that any breach of this protocol could invite internal action.
Context for the instruction lies in the Congress party’s performance in the previous assembly polls, when it contested 93 seats and secured 21 victories. Candidate names had been compiled at constituency level by core committees and forwarded for consideration. Despite pockets where Congress had been seen as a likely winner and even formed a cabinet in some places, the Left returned to power in several constituencies, prompting internal review of candidate selection processes.
Party insiders said the central direction is intended to streamline decision-making, ensure uniformity in process and prevent public disagreements that could be exploited by political opponents. The AICC’s screening committee, they said, will consider local committee recommendations while retaining final authority to balance winnability, representation and broader strategic priorities.
Separately, the Congress organised a multi-day camp in Bathery within days of the announcement. The camp brought together members of core committees, national working committee functionaries, MLAs, MPs and KPCC office-bearers. Those present participated in strategy sessions and campaign planning exercises intended to align state-level operations with national directives.
Senior party officials stressed that the directive is administrative in nature and does not preclude any leader from being considered for a ticket. Rather, it aims to maintain party discipline and ensure a transparent screening process. As the assembly polls approach, the AICC has signalled its intention to manage candidate announcements centrally, while consulting state units and constituency committees.
The party’s next steps will include formal screenings, consultations with local leaders and public announcements once the AICC screening committee completes its assessments. For leaders and activists in Kerala, the message from the national leadership is clear: do not proclaim candidacy ahead of the official word from the AICC.
Key Takeaways:
- AICC has instructed state units in Kerala to stop leaders from publicly declaring assembly candidacy and to await formal selections.
- The decision follows objections from Youth Congress over public contestation and aims to centralise decisions with the AICC screening committee.
- Congress had contested 93 seats and won 21 in the last assembly elections; party committees supplied candidate names previously.
- A recent party camp in Bathery brought state and national functionaries together to prepare for the upcoming polls.
