Congress yet to finalise Kerala candidates

New Delhi/Thiruvananthapuram, March 29  The Congress on Tuesday cleared at least 50 names for the 82 seats it is contesting in the Kerala assembly elections, but party sources said the final list may take some time as objections have been raised by a few top leaders.

Chief Minister Oommen Chandy, Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala and state Congress president V.M. Sudheeran are involved in the talks with the party's screening committee in Delhi.

A party leader who did not wish to be named said Sudheeran was "a bit tough on a few names", and Chandy and Chennithala were "putting up a joint effort" to clear them.

Sudheeran has reportedly objected to a few names, including those of Excise Minister K. Babu and Revenue Minister Adoor Prakash, to which Chandy and Chennithala have disagreed.

Chandy will return to the state capital on Wednesday but would be back in Delhi on Thursday, when the entire list would be cleared by the screening committee.

The high command will announce the list early next month, party sources said.

Polls for the 140-member Kerala assembly will be held on May 16.