Thiruvananthapuram, 14 Jan (H.S.):The Indian National Congress has stepped up preparations for the upcoming Kerala Assembly elections, with senior All India Congress Committee (AICC) leaders intensifying consultations on candidate selection. Madhusudan Mistry, Chairman of the AICC Screening Committee, arrived in Thiruvananthapuram on Tuesday evening to lead crucial discussions aimed at finalising the party’s electoral strategy in the state.

Soon after his arrival in the capital, Mistry held informal consultations late into the night with a select group of senior Congress leaders. According to party sources, formal discussions with state leaders are expected to begin on Wednesday, once ongoing protests conclude. Congress leaders are currently staging a day-and-night agitation in front of the World Bank office as part of a protest against the labour guarantee bill. The protest is scheduled to end at 10 a.m., after which official meetings are likely to commence.

Mistry’s visit is seen as part of the AICC’s effort to gain a first-hand assessment of the political climate in Kerala, moving beyond factional recommendations and internal group pressures. Party insiders indicate that the high command is determined to make a realistic evaluation of ground-level conditions in each constituency before finalising candidates.

Clear and strict benchmarks are expected to guide the selection process this time, with winning potential emerging as the primary criterion. The AICC has reportedly instructed the state unit to prepare a shortlist of three potential candidates for each Assembly constituency, based purely on their electoral viability. The Congress high command has made it clear that traditional group-based seat-sharing formulas will not be entertained.

The party leadership aims to announce the final list of candidates soon after the conclusion of the Kerala tour by the Leader of the Opposition, V D Satheesan. The timing is seen as crucial, as the Congress hopes an early declaration will give candidates sufficient time to mobilise and consolidate support at the grassroots level.

Meanwhile, the Congress high command has summoned V D Satheesan and KPCC president Sunny Joseph to New Delhi for further consultations. They have been asked to arrive on Friday, the 16th, and are expected to meet senior leaders including party president Mallikarjun Kharge and former party chief Rahul Gandhi. Candidate selection for Kerala is understood to be the central agenda of these high-level meetings.

Together, these developments underline the Congress leadership’s intent to adopt a disciplined, performance-driven approach as it seeks to mount a strong challenge in the Kerala Assembly elections.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Arun Lakshman