Kerala Assembly elections 2026: Congress denies ticket to Eldhose Kunnappillly, picks Mohammad Shiyas for Kochi

Ending the prolonged power struggle between the various factions and lobbies in the Congress that delayed the announcement of the full set of candidates, the party eventually thrashed out a formula and named its candidates for four of the Assembly constituencies in the district.

Tony Chammany

The party chose former district panchayat president Manoj Moothedan over two-time legislator Eldhose Kunnappilly, who was embroiled in an alleged case related to outraging the modesty of a woman, for the Perumbavoor seat in the second list of party candidates released late on Thursday night (March 19).

Manoj Moothedan

The mantle fell on Ernakulam District Congress Committee president Mohammad Shiyas for the Kochi seat, thus dashing the hopes of Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) general secretary Deepthy Mary Varghese to contest the Assembly poll. The political mentors of both Ms. Varghese and Mr. Shiyas were locked in intense lobbying as both the prospective candidates had completed the preliminary preparations for contesting the election. Leader of the Opposition V.D. Satheesan succeeded in securing the seat for Mr. Shiyas, his close confidante, thus denying the political opportunity for Ms. Varghese, a nominee of AICC general secretary K.C. Venugopal.

Deepak Joy

Mr. Shiyas, who won over his organisational college in the race for the candidature, will take on two-time legislator and sitting MLA K.J. Maxy from the constituency.

Former Kochi Mayor Tony Chammany, who unsuccessfully contested the Kochi seat last time, was picked up for the Vypeen seat this time. Besides donning the post of Mayor, Mr. Chammany had served as State general secretary of the Youth Congress and general secretary of the Ernakulam District Congress Committee. M.B. Shiny, a CPI(M) leader, is the LDF candidate in the constituency as the party shifted sitting MLA K.N. Unnikrishnan to Thripunithura.

The Congress has fielded Deepak Joy, Deputy Mayor of Kochi, to defend its political legacy in Thripunithura. Mr. Joy was picked for the job as sitting legislator and former Excise Minister K. Babu volunteered to opt out of the race. Mr. Joy, a resident of Ayyappankavu in the Kochi Corporation, who tasted defeat at the hands of Mr. Unnikrishnan in Vypeen in the 2021 election, will re-engage his former opponent in Thripunithura after a gap of five years.

The political fallout of the candidate selection, along with political lobbying and factional fights in the Congress, is likely to be felt in the coming days. A disappointed Mr. Kunnappilly told media persons that a decision on whether to contest the elections as an Independent would be taken on Friday after holding consultations with local party leaders and supporters.