Kerala Assembly Elections 2026: A. Suresh joins Congress, named UDF candidate in Malampuzha

A. Suresh, a former personal assistant of the former Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI(M)] Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan, joined the Congress on Tuesday. Soon after his formal induction into the Congress, he was declared the United Democratic Front (UDF) candidate in Malampuzha.

District Congress Committee (DCC) president A. Thankappan welcomed Mr. Suresh into the party at a function held in Palakkad.

Mr. Suresh was expelled from the CPI(M) 13 years ago after the party found him responsible for leaking information about party factionalism. Although he insisted that he was not part of any factions and denied the allegations against him, the CPI(M) leadership refused to readmit him into the party.

He took part in the Puthuyuga Yatra led by Leader of the Opposition V.D. Satheesan a few weeks ago, and the Congress offered him the Malampuzha seat. Although he said that he would remain an Independent, Congress workers in the constituency insisted that he contest on the party’s hand symbol.

After joining the Congress, Mr. Suresh said that he was proud to be a member of the country’s largest democratic and secular party. He alleged deep divisions within the CPI(M), and said that several committed leaders had left the party.

Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) general secretary C. Chandran, Indian National Trade Union Congress (INTUC) district president S.K. Ananthakrishnan, DCC general secretary V. Ramachandran, block presidents Radhakrishnan and P.K. Vasu, Youth Congress State secretary Vinod Cherad, and Malampuzha UDF chairman K. Koyakkutty were among those who attended the function.