Kerala Elections: CPI-M announces 83 candidates list

In Kerala, the ruling CPI-M announced its list of 83 candidates for the upcoming Legislative Assembly Election. According to reports, 33 sitting MLAs including five ministers in the present cabinet are not contesting this time as the party strictly follows a two-term policy. Due to this policy, some prominent leaders were left out of the list.In the ruling LDF, CPM published the list of its candidates for 83 constituencies last day.The list includes 74 party candidates and 9 independents supported by the party.Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan will contest from Dharmadom.Health Minister KK Shailaja from Mattannur, and Higher Education Minister KT Jaleel from Thavanoor. But Finance MinisterBut Thomas Isaac, Industries Minister EP Jayarajan, Law Minister AK Balan, Education Minister C Raveendranath, and Public Works Minister G Sudhakaran are not in the fray.

The Left Democratic Front (LDF) convenor and acting CPI-M state secretary A Vijayaraghavan said, "Out of 83 candidates 74 candidates are contesting in party symbols, nine candidates are CPI-M supported independent candidates." "With regards to two seats Manjeshwaram and Devikulam, we will announce the names later," he said adding that the decision is due to a large per cent of linguistic minorities and Tamil migrant workers in these constituencies respectively. Vijayaraghavan said, "As the lone candidate from Kerala to the Pondicherry Legislative Assembly, CPI-M is going to support N Haridas who is to contest as an independent from Mahi Constituency." He also said that the Students Federation of India (SFI) All India President VP Sanu will contest as CPI-M candidate in the Lok Sabha by-election of Malappuram constituency. With regard to the age factor, we have 4 candidates below 30 years, 8 candidates below 40 years, 8 candidates between 30 and 40 years, 13 candidates between 41 and 50 years, 33 candidates between 51 and 60 years and 24 candidates above 60 years," Vijayaraghavan said.

In UDF, as selection talks in Congress is progressing in New Delhi. In NDA the candidate selection process in BJP is in the final phase. Declaration may follow the electoral committee meeting to be held Thursday.Meanwhile, the official notification of assembly polls in Kerala will be out on Friday.