Thiruvananthapuram: Just hours after the Election Commission announced dates for Assembly polls in Kerala, the Communist Party of India (CPI(M) announced the candidates for 75 seats. The state will go to the polls for all 140 seats on April 9, while results will be announced on May 4.
As per the agreement between CPI (M) and CPI, the two ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF) partners in Kerala, CPI(M) will contest in 86 seats will, CPI will contest in 25 seats. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan will contest from his current Dharmadam seat in northern Kannur district.
56 candidates will contest again: CPI(M)
Addressing the press conference, CPI(M) state secretary M V Govindan said that of the announce candidates on Sunday, 56 candidates will contest again. Notably, A N Shamseer, the current Assembly Speaker, and M M Mani, a party veteran from Idukki district, did not find their names in the list.
The ministers whose names were announced as candidates on Sunday are – O R Kelu (Mananthavady), P A Mohammed Riyas (Beypore), V Abdurahiman (Tanur), M B Rajesh (Thrithala), R Bindu (Irinjalakuda), P Rajeev (Kalamassery), V N Vasavan (Ettumanoor), Saji Cherian (Chengannur), Veena George (Aranmula), K N Balagopal (Kottarakkara) and V Sivankutty (Nemom).
CPI(M) fields 10 women candidates
Also, the CPI(M) has named as many as 10 women candidates, including – K K Shailaja, P K Syamala , K Santhakumari, R Bindu, M B Shiny, Pushpa Das, Dalima Jojo, U Prathibha, Veena George and O S Ambika.
Announcing the dates for Kerala polls in the election, the Election Commission earlier in the day said that there are 2.50 crore voters in Assam, who will exercise their rights to votes. It also added that 1,571 centenarians will will vote this year in the state.