Thiruvananthapuram:
The Congress has re-nominated sitting Rajya Sabha member PJ Kurian as its candidate for the Rajya Sabha poll from the state due on June 25.
AICC chief Sonia Gandhi announced the name of Mr Kurian, Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee president Ramesh Chennithala said in a release in Thiruvananthapuram on Wednesday.
Three seats are falling vacant in the state as the term of PJ Kurian of the Congress, KE Ismail of the CPI and CR Rajan of the CPI(M) expire on July 1. As per the present strength of Congress-led ruling UDF in the assembly, the front can win two seats.
The front has allotted the winnable seat to Kerala Congress (M), the third partner in the UDF. The CPI(M)-led LDF opposition could win only one seat considering its strength in the 140-member House.
The LDF has decided to field two candidates. The CPI(M) has nominated party's secretariat member CP Narayanan as its candidate for the Rajya Sabha poll while CPI is yet to announce its candidate.