The Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI(M)] announced its candidates for the upcoming Assembly elections in Kerala minutes after the Election Commission announced the dates. Soon after CPI(M) State secretary M.V. Govindan stepped outside the AKG Centre in the capital following the announcement of candidates, roadshows of the party’s candidates began in constituencies across Kerala.
As the ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF) seeks the mandate for an unprecedented third consecutive term in power, it has fielded 56 sitting MLAs and most of the Ministers. With the fielding of a majority of the incumbent MLAs, the LDF seeks to counter the Opposition’s narrative of anti-incumbency. In some districts such as Thiruvananthapuram, all incumbent CPI(M) MLAs are contesting. Out of the 86 seats that the CPI(M) will be contesting, 75 will have the party’s own candidates.
Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan will contest from Dharmadam constituency. Ministers including V. Sivankutty, Veena George, K.N. Balagopal, R. Bindu, P. Rajeeve, M.B. Rajesh, P.A. Mohamed Riyas, V.N. Vasavan, Saji Cherian and O.R. Kelu as well as former Ministers K.K. Shailaja, C.N. Raveendranath, A.C. Moideen, Kadakampally Surendran and CPI(M)-backed Independents K.T. Jaleel, and V. Abdul Rahiman will contest. Also on the list of candidates is LDF convener T.P. Ramakrishnan, Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI) State secretary V.K. Sanoj, and former India footballer U. Sharafali. The significant names missing from the list include Speaker A.N. Shamseer, CPI(M) State secretary M.V. Govindan, State Secretariat member M. Swaraj and former minister M.M. Mani.
The CPI(M) has fielded ten women candidates, including P.K. Shyamala, Pushpa Das, K. Shanthakumari, M.B. Shiny, U. Prathibha, Daleema Jojo, and O.S. Ambika. Mr. Govindan exuded confidence that the people of Kerala will reward the LDF for its welfare and developmental initiatives, as well as for making a reality major projects such as the National Highway development and the GAIL pipeline project, which were thought to be impossible.
“The candidates were all decided in a democratic manner, beginning from the list of probables prepared by the district secretariats, which were vetted by the party leadership at the State and national levels. Five more Independent candidates for Palakkad, Koduvally, Kondotty, Tirur, and Kottakkal, will be announced soon. Regarding the candidature of Antony Raju from the Thiruvananthapuram constituency, a decision will be taken based on the proceedings in the court on Monday,” said Mr. Govindan.
The following is the full list of the candidates fielded by the CPI(M):
Thiruvananthapuram
V. Sivankutty (Nemom); V. Joy (Varkala); O.S. Ambika (Attingal); D.K. Murali (Vamanapuram); Kadakampally Surendran (Kazhakuttam); V.K. Prasanth (Vattiyurkavu); C.K. Hareendran (Parassala) K. Ansalan (Neyyattinkara) I.B. Satheesh (Kattakkada); G. Stephan (Aruvikkara)
Kollam
K.N. Balagopal (Kottarakara); S. Jayamohan (Kollam); M. Noushad (Iravipuram); S.L. Sajikumar (Kundara)
Pathanamthitta
Veena George (Aranmula); K.U. Jenish Kumar (Konni)
Kottayam
V.N. Vasavan (Ettumanur); K.M. Radhakrishnan (Puthuppally); K. Anil Kumar (Kottayam)
Alappuzha
Saji Cheriyan (Chengannur); Daleema Jojo (Aroor); P.P. Chitharanjan (Alappuzha); U. Prathiba (Kayamkulam); H. Salam (Ambalappuzha); M.S. Arun Kumar (Mavelikara)
Ernakulam
P. Rajeeve (Kalamassery); Saju Paul (Angamaly) K.J. Maxi (Kochi); M.P. Shiny (Vypeen); P.V. Sreenijin (Kunnathunadu); Pushpa Das (Thrikkakara); K.N. Unnikrishnan (Thrippunithura); Antony John (Kothamangalam); A.M. Ariff (Aluva)
Idukki
K.K. Jayachandran (Udumbanchola); A. Raja (Devikulam)
Thrissur
R. Bindu (Irinjalakuda); Xavier Chittilappilly (Vadakkancherry); C. Raveendranath (Manalur); U.R. Pradeep (Chelakkara); N.K. Akbar (Guruvayur); K.K. Ramachandran (Puthukkad) A.C. Moideen (Kunnamkulam)
Palakkad
T.M. Sasi (Alathur); K. Preman (Nenmara); A. Prabhakaran (Malampuzha); K. Shanthakumari (Kongad); P.P.Sumod (Tharoor); K. Premkumar (Ottappalam); P.P. Mammykutty (Shoranur); M.B. Rajesh (Thrithala)
Malappuram
K.T. Jaleel (Thavanur); M.K. Sakeer (Ponnani); E.P. Muhammed Haneefa (Perinthalmanna); - M.P. Alavi (Mankada); K.K. Damodaran (Wandoor)
Kozhikode
K.P. Kunjahammed Kutti (Kuttiyadi); K. Dasan (Koilandy); T.P. Ramakrishnan (Perambra); K.M. Sachindev (Balussery); Thottathil Raveendran (Kozhikode North); P.A. Mohamed Riyas (Beypore); Linto Joseph (Thiruvambady)
Wayanad
O.R. Kelu (Mananthavady); M.S. Viswanathan (Sulthan Bathery)
Kannur
Pinarayi Vijayan (Dharmadom); K.K. Shailaja (Peravur); T.I. Madhusoodhan (Payyannur); M. Vijin (Kalliyassery); K.V. Sumesh (Azhikode); V.K.Sanoj (Mattannur); Karayi Rajan (Thalassery); P.K. Syamala (Taliparamba)
Kasaragod
C.H. Kunjambu (Uduma); V.P.P. Mustafa (Thrikkarippur); K.R. Jayananda (Manjeswaram)
Independents
K.T. Jaleel (Tavanur); Muhammed Sabah Kundupuzhakkal (Vengara); P.T.A. Rahim (Kunnamangalam); V. Abdurahiman (Tanur); U. Sharafali (Nilambur); Sujith Vijayanpillai (Chavara)