New Faces, Youth Get More Representation In Kerala’s CPI(M) Candidates List

The Communist Party of India (Marxist), CPI(M), on Wednesday announced the list of candidates for the upcoming Assembly elections in the State that includes several new faces after dropping many popular leaders who won two consecutive terms.

Heavyweights in the present ministry, including Finance Minister Thomas Issac, PWD Minister G Sudhakaran, Industries Minister E P Jayarajan, Education Minister C Raveendranth and Law Minister A K Balan and Speaker P Sreeramakrishnan will not be contesting this time.

Last time CPI(M) had contested in 92 seats in the 140-member State Assembly, this time they will be contesting only in 85 seats as the CPI(M)-led Left Democratic Front (LDF) has two new allies — Kerala Congress (Mani) and Loktantrik Janata Dal (LJD). Of the seven seats given to their allies, five are sitting seats.

Eight Ministers including Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, Kadakampally Surendran, J Mercykutty Amma, M M Mani, K K Shailaja, A C Moideen, T P Ramakrishnan and K T Jaleel are contesting.

Of the 85 seats contesting, the names of 83 candidates have been announced and 12 are women. CPI(M) had four contestants below the age of 30, eight contestants in the 31 to 40 age group, 13 contestants in 41-50 age group , 31 in the 50 to 60 age group and 24 above 60.

Of the 83 candidates, nine are independent candidates supported by CPI(M).

Among the candidates, 43 are degree holders and out of this, 28 are lawyers. 14 candidates are postgraduates, two are PhD holders, and two are MBBS doctors and one an architect.

While announcing the names, CPI(M) Secretary A Vijayaraghavan said: “CPI(M) has adopted a candidate list which would be helpful for the continuation of the existing LDF government in Kerala. The LDF continued with an alternative policy to enhance public education and health system.”

The names of candidates for Manjeswaram and Devikulam constituencies will be announced later. These two constituencies are those with linguistic minorities. Manjeswaram is sharing boarders with Karnataka and Devikulam with Tamil Nadu. “We are considering some names and consulting with local workers and will announce candidates later,” he added.

List of candidates:

Malappuram District

Thavanoor – K T Jaleel

Ponnani-P Nandakumar

Kondotty-K P Sulaiman

Perinthalmanna-K P Muhammed Musthapha

Nilambur-P V Anwar

Mangada-T K Rasheedali

Vandoor -P Mithuna

Malappuram- Paloli Abdu Rahman

Thiroor – Gafoor P Leelis

Vengara – Jiji P

Kasargod District

Uduma – C H Kunjambu

Thrikarippur – M Rajagopalan

Wayanad District

Manathavady – O R Kelu

Bathery – M S Vishwanathan

Kozhikode District

Koyilandi – Kaanathil Jameela

Perambra – T P Ramakrishnan

Balusery – Sachin Dev

Kozhikode North – Thottathil Raveendran

Bepore – Muhammad Riyas

Kundamangalam – P T A Raheem

Koduvally – Karat Razak

Thiruvambady – Linto Joseph

Palakkad District

Alathoor- K D Pressanan

Nenmara- K Babu

Palakkad-C P Pramod

Malampuzha -A Prabhakaran

Kongad- K Shanthakumari

Tharoor- P P Sumod

Ottapalam- Prem Kumar

Shornoor- PP Mummykutty

Thrithala- M B Rajesh

Thrissur District

Iringalakuda – R Bindhu

Vadakkanchery – Saviour Chittilapally

Manaloor -Murali Perunally

Chellakara-K Radhakrishnan

Guruvayoor -N K Akbar

Puthukaad-KK Ramachandran

Kunnamkulam-A C Moyitheen

Ernakulam District

Kochi – K J Maksi

Vyppin – K N Unnikrishnan

Thrikkakara- Dr J Jacob

Thrippunithara – M Swaraj

Kalamassery – P Rajeev

Kothamangalam – Antony John

Aluva – Shelna Nishad

Ernakulam – Yeshudad Parappilly

Kunnathunadu- V V Sreenijan

Idukki District

Udumbanchola- MM Mani

Kottayam District

Ettumanoor – V N Vasavan

Kottayam – K Anil Kumar

Puthupally – Jaick C Thomas

Alappuzha District

Chenganoor – Saji Cheriyan

Kayamkulam – U Prathibha

Ambalapuzha – H Salam

Aroor -Daleema Jojo

Mavelikkara -M S Arunkumar

Alappuzha – PP CHITHARANJAN

Pathanamthitta District

Aranmula- Veena George

Konni – K U Jenish Kumar

Kollam District

Kollam-M Mukesh

Eravipuram-M Naushad

Chavara-Dr V Sujith

Kundara-J Mercikuttiyama

Kottarakara- K N Balagopal

Trivandrum District

Parassala -CK Hareendran

Neyyatinkara-K Ansalan

Vattiyoorkavu-V K Prashanth

Kattakada-I B Satheesh

Nemam-V Shivankutty

Kazhakootam-Kadakampally Surendran

Varkkala-V Joy

Vamanapuram-D K Murali

Attingal -O S Ambika

Aruvikkara -G Stephen

Kannur District

Peravur – Sakkeer Hussain

Dharmadom – Pinarayi Vijayan

Payyanur – P I Madhusoodhanan

Kallyaseri – M Vijin

Azheekod – K V Sumesh

Mattannur – K K Shailaja

Thalassery – A N Shamseer

Thaliparamb – M V Govindan

The candidate for the Malappuram Lok Sabha constituency by-election has also announced and VP Sanu is the candidate. The CPI(M) will field N Haridasan as an independent candidate from Mahe that falls under Puducherry state.