Congress (S), NCP-SP in Keralam announce merger

A.K. Saseendran will be the parliamentary board chairperson of the new party. (File photo) The Congress (S) and the Keralam wing of the Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar), two partners of the Left Democratic Front (LDF), have announced their decision to merge.Addressing the media here on Friday (September 25, 2026), top leaders of the two parties said the decision was taken considering the need for a Left, secular and democratic platform of like-minded parties rooted in the principles of nationalism and ideals of the Indian National Congress.“The new platform can emerge as a political party suiting the political bravery and firm stances of the new generation,” Congress (S) chief Kadannappally Ramachandran and NCP-SP leaders A.K. Saseendran and Thomas K. Thomas said.They said at a time when the Congress, the principal opposition party at the Centre, was unable to resist the government’s moves shattering the Constitution and constitutional institutions, the merger of their parties aims to form a strong political platform for those who believe in the Indian nationalist movement whose responsibilities have grown bigger now.Name of the partyThe leaders said they have proposed to the Election Commission two names for the new party—Congress Secular Party or Congress Socialist Party. “In any case, the abbreviation will remain CSP,” the leaders said.While Mr. Saseendran will be the parliamentary board chairperson of the new party, Mr. Thomas will be the political affairs committee chairperson. A merger rally will be held at Marine Drive in Kochi on October 24, followed by the State general body of elected members and policy declaration the next day, the leaders said. Published - September 25, 2026 07:32 pm IST