THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: In a significant blow to the Congress party's election campaign, KSU State President Aloysius Xavier has resigned from his post following his exclusion from the candidate list for the 2026 Assembly elections.
Aloysius, who was widely expected to contest from the Idukki or Poonjar constituencies, submitted his resignation to the NSU(I) National President as a direct protest against the party's decision to overlook youth representation in the upcoming polls.
The resignation follows days of internal friction and "poster wars" in the Poonjar and Idukki regions, where local Congress committees reportedly organised protests against his potential candidacy. While the KSU State Committee had already begun ground-level preparations for his campaign, the party leadership ultimately opted for veteran figures over the student leader. Aloysius stated that his decision was made to protect the self-respect of youth workers who feel sidelined by the current seat-sharing arrangements.
Despite his exit from the leadership role, Aloysius has urged KSU members to remain dedicated to the UDF's success in the elections scheduled for April 9. However, his departure highlights a growing rift between the party's established guard and its younger activists just weeks before Kerala heads to the polls.