CPM Swiftly Announces Candidates for Kerala Assembly Elections
Following the Election Commission's announcement of assembly elections in Kerala on April 9, the Communist Party of India (Marxist) has moved quickly to name its candidates. On Sunday evening, CPM state secretary M V Govindan released the list, demonstrating the party's readiness for the upcoming polls.
Candidate Details and Constituencies
The CPM will contest in 86 constituencies, with 75 of these being party candidates. A total of 81 candidates have been named, including six CPM-backed independents and ten women. Independent candidates for five constituencies – Koduvally, Kottakkal, Palakkad, Kondotty, and Tirur – will be announced at a later date.
Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan will seek re-election from Dharmadom. He is joined by eleven of his cabinet colleagues and fifty-four sitting MLAs who will also contest again. The candidate for Thiruvananthapuram Central will be decided after the court delivers its verdict on the case against MLA Antony Raju on Monday.
Key Ministers and Women Candidates
The ministers contesting this time include Mohamed Riyas (Beypore), V Sivankutty (Nemom), M B Rajesh (Trithala), P Rajeeve (Kalamassery), V N Vasavan (Ettumanoor), Saji Cherian (Chengannur), O R Kelu (Mananthavady), R Bindu (Irinjalakuda), Veena George (Aranmula), and K N Balagopal (Kottarakara).
In addition to Bindu and George, the other women candidates in the CPM list are K K Shailaja (Peravoor), Govindan's wife P K Shyamala (Taliparamba), K Santhakumari (Kongad), M B Shiny (Vypeen), Pushpa Das (Thrikkakara), Daleema Jojo (Aroor), U Prathibha (Kayamkulam), and O S Ambika (Attingal).
Notable Absences and Independent Candidate
Govindan confirmed that speaker A N Shamseer and Udumbanchola MLA M M Mani are not contesting this time. K K Jayachandran will contest from Udumbanchola in place of Mani. Additionally, party-backed independent T Ashok Kumar will contest from Mahe in Puducherry.
Democratic Selection and Campaign Launch
Govindan emphasized that the candidates were selected in a highly democratic manner. The party had decided that only one politburo member, Pinarayi Vijayan, should contest. Immediately after the announcement, many CPM candidates took to the streets, organized rallies, and began campaigning on Sunday itself.
Govindan later launched the campaign roadshow of Vattiyoorkavu candidate V K Prasanth at the AKG Centre, marking the official start of the party's election campaign.
Confidence in Victory and Development Achievements
Expressing strong confidence, Govindan stated that the Left Democratic Front (LDF) will win the assembly polls for the third consecutive time. He highlighted that this victory is crucial for establishing a Nava Keralam and opposing communal forces.
He outlined the government's achievements over the past ten years, including providing a peaceful life for the people and significant milestones in health and education. The state attracted four lakh entrepreneurs in five years and saw progress in projects such as the GAIL pipeline, Vizhinjam Port, National Highway works, coastal highway, and hill highway projects.
Govindan also noted that the state recruited the greatest number of people through the public service commission, underscoring the government's commitment to employment and development.
