New Delhi, Tuesday, October 13, 2009: The Congress list of candidates has finally got approval from the high command. After days of hectic discussions the candidates for Alappuzha, Ernakulam and Kannur Assembly by elections were announced today, according to which Dominic Presentation will represent Congress from Ernakulam AA Shukoor and AP Abdullakutty will fight on Congress banner from Alappuzha and Kannur respectively.
Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee had presented the list of candidates to the AICC. after days of intense scrutiny.
The list was given go ahead by Congress Election Committee.

For DCC president A A Shukoor this is his debut assembly by poll battle, has been the most preferred UDF candidate for Alappuzha from the beginning itself. Also there was intense lobbying for former state minister Dominic Presentation

A two-time CPI-M MP, Abdulla Kutty had joined the Congress after his explusion from CPI-M following friction with the party leadership over several issues including his statement praising developmental model of Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi.

Though there had been some resistence to his candidature from sections in Congress in the state,Kutty emerged as front-runner as he was considered to be a strong contestant to take on CPI-M local leader M V Jayarajan, who had been put up by the party.