K.M. Shaji has been fielded from Vengara, a seat vacated by Mr. Kunhalikutty
The Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) on Tuesday announced its candidates for the Kerala Assembly elections scheduled on April 9. Of the 27 seats the party is contesting as a constituent of the United Democratic Front (UDF), 25 candidates were announced by State president Syed Sadikali Shihab Thangal at his residence at Panakkad.
Nearly half of the nominees are new faces, including several youngsters. Mr. Thangal said the party had given importance to youth representation while preparing the list. IUML national general secretary P.K. Kunhalikutty will contest from Malappuram, while K.M. Shaji has been fielded from Vengara, a seat vacated by Mr. Kunhalikutty.
List of IUML candidates:
A.K.M. Ashraf — Manjeswaram
Kallatra Mahin Haji — Kasargod
Kareem Cheleri — Azheekode
Jayanthi Rajan — Koothuparamba
Parakkal Abdulla — Kuttiyadi
Fatima Tahilia — Perambra
Kasim Koodarinji — Thiruvambadi
P.K. Firoz — Koduvally
Razak Master — Kunnamangalam
Faizal Babu — Kozhikode South
T.V. Ibrahim — Vallikkunnu
T.P. Ashraf Ali — Kondotty
M. Rahmatulla — Manjeri
P.K. Basheer — Eranad
P.K. Kunhalikutty — Malappuram
Manjalamkuzhi Ali — Mankada
Najeeb Kanthapuram — Perinthalmanna
K.M. Shaji — Vengara
Abid Husain Thangal — Kottakkal
Kurukkoli Moideen — Tirur
P.K. Navas — Tanur
P.M.A. Sameer — Tirurangadi
N. Shamsudheen — Mannarkkad
C.H. Rasheed — Guruvayur
V.E. Abdul Gafoor — Kalamassery
Mr. Thangal said that candidates for Punalur and Chelakkara would be announced within two days. A final decision is yet to be taken on whether the party will contest from Punalur or Chadayamangalam.
He also said that IUML State general secretary P.M.A. Salam and Malappuram district general secretary P. Abdul Hameed had opted out of the electoral fray.
Among the IUML’s sitting MLAs, K.P.A. Majeed, M.K. Muneer, P. Abdul Hameed, N.A. Nellikkunnu, P. Ubaidullah and U.A. Latheef have been dropped from the list of candidates.
Published – March 17, 2026 07:09 pm IST
