UDF seat sharing in final stages, says V.D. Satheesan

The Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) will announce its candidates the moment the schedule for the 2026 Assembly elections is announced, Leader of Opposition V.D. Satheesan and UDF convener Adoor Prakash said at separate press conferences here on Thursday.

Mr. Satheesan, speaking to the media in connection with the conclusion of the Puthuyuga Yatra which he has been leading, said the selection of candidates and division of seats among the UDF constituents were purposefully delayed as the announcement of the elections has been delayed. Mr. Satheesan said the discussions pertaining to seat sharing is “in the final stages.” “We are prepared to announce the candidates any time,” he said.

On the row in the Revolutionary Socialist Party (RSP) over candidate selection, Mr. Satheesan said the Congress will not interfere in the internal matters of a UDF constituent. “It is those parties who decide who the candidate should be in the seats allotted to them. Not the Congress,” he said. If any Congress party member does interfere in such matters, it will attract stern action, he warned, adding that the UDF has a mechanism in place to resolve disputes.

On candidates and seat-sharing, Mr. Prakash said “all decisions will be concluded with urgency” once the elections are declared. Mr. Prakash was addressing a press conference in connection with a function planned in Kollam on Friday to mark the centenary celebrations of the historic meeting between Narayana Guru and Mahatma Gandhi. At the same time, Mr. Prakash said one or two rounds of discussions were held with the UDF partners, but an agreement was yet to be finalised. “Nonetheless, we are taking the process forward by keeping everyone united and avoiding differences of opinion. Besides, the elections have not been announced yet,” he said.

On possible exchange of seats among the front partners, Mr. Prakash said various UDF constituents have expressed their preferences, but decisions will be finalised by UDF leaders through discussions “with everyone.”

Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi will inaugurate the valedictory of the Puthuyuga Yatra led by Mr. Satheesan at the Putharikkandam Maidan on Saturday. The Yatra had started off from Kasaragod on February 6 and concluded here on Thursday.

Mr. Satheesan said there is every indication that the LDF and the CPI(M) are disintegrating in Kerala. On P.K. Sasi’s exit from the CPI(M), he said that Mr. Sasi had been continuing in that party on the basis of a CPI(M) report denying any wrongdoing on his part.

Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi will inaugurate the valedictory of the Puthuyuga Yatra led by Mr. Satheesan at the Putharikkandam Maidan on Saturday. The Yatra had started off from Kasaragod on February 6 and concluded here on Thursday. On Friday, Mr. Gandhi is scheduled to inaugurate an event at the Asramam Maidan, Kollam, marking the centenary of the meeting between Narayana Guru and Mahatma Gandhi. Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy is among the speakers at the event.