Keralam: CPM to contest 86 of 140 seats

The Communist Party of India (Marxist) has announced that it will contest 86 out of the 140 seats in the upcoming Keralam Assembly elections, reaffirming its central role in the ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF) alliance. The announcement came soon after the Election Commission declared the poll schedule for the state, with voting set to take place on April 9 and counting of votes scheduled for May 4.  Keralam Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan will once again contest from the Dharmadam Assembly constituency in Kannur district, a seat he has represented in the state legislature for several terms. The CPI(M) has also confirmed that senior party leader and former health minister K K Shailaja will contest from the Peravoor Assembly constituency in Kannur district.
The party has so far announced 81 candidates,the remaining constituencies will be contested by its allies in the Left Democratic Front, including the Communist Party of India (CPI) and other coalition partners. Among the notable candidates, P.K. Shyamala will contest from the Taliparamba Assembly constituency. Shyamala is the wife of CPIM state secretary M. V. Govindan, and Taliparamba was previously his sitting seat.
Meanwhile, the Communist Party of India (CPI) has announced candidates in 25 constituencies for the upcoming Keralam Assembly elections. CPI state secretary Binoy Viswam released the list shortly after the Election Commission announced the poll schedule. The CPI, which is a key ally in the ruling LDF, has fielded four incumbent ministers, G R Anil, J Chinchurani, K Rajan and P Prasad, in the elections. The candidate list also includes several legislators who have completed two consecutive terms, including K Rajan, Mohammed Muhsin, E T Taison and V R Sunil Kumar.