UDF races to finalise seat-sharing as LDF attempts to steal march on the Opposition

Seemingly chary of being outpaced by the Left Democratic Front (LDF) at the hustings, the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) appeared to scramble on Sunday (March 15, 2026) to finalise seat-sharing. The ruling Left Democratic Front’s (LDF) attempt to steal a march on the UDF by announcing its candidates within hours of the proclamation of the Assembly elections in Kerala seemed to have given an added impetus to the Opposition to finalise nominees for the April 9 polls. 

Leader of the Opposition V.D. Satheesan and senior Congress leader Ramesh Chennithala held a closed-door meeting with the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) leadership at Aluva Palace in Ernakulam. The meeting acquired importance against the backdrop of reports that the IUML had demanded a higher number of seats, including a few in central Kerala, in a bid to expand the party’s political base and also demonstrate its heft in the UDF. Moreover, the IUML reportedly weighed whether to swap seats with the Congress in the Thiruvambadi, Pattambi, Kongadu and Kalamassery constituencies.

Emerging from the meeting, IUML national general secretary P.K. Kunhalikutty declined to comment on whether the party had demanded additional seats. “The discussions were positive and very cordial. There is no major problem. The UDF leadership will meet again on Monday to tie up a few loose ends,” he said. Mr. Kunhalikutty said he would report the outcome of the discussion to the IUML State committee, which, he stated, would take the final call.

‘No demands raised’

Mr. Satheesan said the IUML had raised no demand. Mr. Chennithala said the UDF seat allocation was in the final stage. He said other alliance partners were in lockstep with the Congress, and there was no space for rancour.

Congress insiders said former Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) president K. Sudhakaran, MP‘s, assertion that he would contest the Assembly election from Kannur had caused a hiccup in finalising party candidates before the All India Congress Committee (AICC) Central Election Committee (CEC) headed by Madhusoodhanan Mistry met next week. Moreover, the party faced difficulties in choosing Assembly hopefuls, as several leaders were jockeying for seats. 

They said the KPCC had submitted 50 names to the CEC, of which at least 30, including those of senior leaders, would likely be approved in the first flush of AICC discussions commencing next week.