Water Resources Minister Roshy Augustine with Kerala Congress (M) chairperson Jose K. Mani in Idukki on Thursday. | Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT Ahead of the Left Democratic Front’s (LDF) official candidate roll-out for the upcoming Kerala Assembly elections, its ally the Kerala Congress (M) [KC(M)] has officially named Water Resources Minister Roshy Augustine as its candidate in the Idukki constituency. The announcement was made by KC(M) chairperson Jose K. Mani on Thursday during the LDF’s Vikasana Munnetta Yatra in Kattappana.While declaring the candidacy, Mr. Mani highlighted Mr. Augustine’s role in rebuilding the Idukki constituency through various development projects after the catastrophic floods of August 2018. Mr. Augustine has represented the Idukki constituency since 2001. Though he contested as a United Democratic Front (UDF) candidate until 2021, he successfully defended the seat as an LDF candidate after the KC(M) shifted its alliance. Both the KC(M) and the LDF are banking on a repeat victory citing his long-standing personal rapport with local voters. Traditionally, the Idukki seat has been a stronghold of the Kerala Congress parties in both fronts.However, with the UDF constituent losing in 2021, the district Congress leadership has demanded that the party take over the seat and field a candidate under the “hand” symbol. A senior Congress leader in Idukki said that the party expects KC chairperson P.J. Joseph to relinquish the seat to the Congress this term. “The UDF has already decided to field a strong candidate under the Congress symbol to reclaim Idukki from Mr. Augustine. In the recent local body elections, fielding candidates under the Congress symbol led to a landslide victory in the region,” the leader said. According to party sources, the Congress currently governs nine out of the ten panchayats in the constituency as well as the Kattappana Municipality. Sources said they were expectingthe positive results of the local body polls to carry over into the Assembly election. While the UDF and the National Democratic Alliance are yet to finalise their candidates for the district, other LDF constituents have made their moves. The Communist Party of India (Marxist) has decided to field former MLA K.K. Jayachandran in Udumbanchola and sitting MLA A. Raja in Devikulam. Meanwhile, the Communist Party of India has proposed district secretary K. Salim Kumar as the candidate for the Peerumade constituency. The Aam Aadmi Party has announced Basil John as its candidate in the Thodupuzha assembly constituency. Published – March 13, 2026 09:21 pm IST Share this: Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window) WhatsApp Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook Click to share on Threads (Opens in new window) Threads Click to share on X (Opens in new window) X Click to share on Telegram (Opens in new window) Telegram Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window) LinkedIn Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window) Pinterest Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window) Email More Click to print (Opens in new window) Print Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window) Reddit Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window) Tumblr Click to share on Pocket (Opens in new window) Pocket Click to share on Mastodon (Opens in new window) Mastodon Click to share on Nextdoor (Opens in new window) Nextdoor Click to share on Bluesky (Opens in new window) Bluesky Like this:Like Loading... Post navigation Sales dip at Koyambedu wholesale market as LPG shortage hits bulk buyers NHRC issues notices to five States over rise in missing persons cases