Kerala assembly elections 2026: KC(J) names 8 picks, son Apu John replaces party chairman PJ Joseph

KOTTAYAM/IDUKKI: Kerala Congress (Joseph) on Tuesday released the list of eight candidates for the assembly election. Party chairman P J Joseph retired from electoral politics and his son Apu John Joseph will contest from Thodupuzha seat this time. Joseph has contested 11 times from Thodupuzha and has only lost once. Meanwhile, Monce Joseph will contest again from Kaduthuruthy.Other party candidates are Varghese Mammen in Thiruvalla, Reji Cherian in Kuttanad, Vinu Job in Changanassery, Shibu Thekkumpuram in Kothamangalam, Thomas Unniyadan in Irinjalakuda and Shaiji Ottapally in Kanhangad.Apu is Joseph’s eldest son. Currently, he is the party’s state coordinator. He is an engineering graduate and was working as a senior software engineer in Switzerland before joining politics in 2008.As part of seat-sharing within UDF, KC(J) conceded two seats — Idukki and Ettumanoor, which were previously held by the party — to Congress.