CPM will contest 86 of 140 seats in Kerala, LDF confident of pulling off hat-trick

T’puram/Kochi: The CPM on Sunday announced it would contest for 86 assembly seats in Kerala and nominated 81 candidates, including six CPM-backed independents and 10 women. Soon after, many CPM candidates took to the streets, organized rallies and began campaigning on Sunday. CPM state secretary MV Govindan said that out of the 86 candidates, 75 will be from the party. Independent candidates for the five constituencies of Koduvali, Kottakal, Palakkad, Kondoti and Tirur will be announced later, he added. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan will contest from Dharmadom. Eleven of his cabinet colleagues and 54 current MLAs are also up for re-election. Govindan also said that the candidates for Thiruvananthapuram Central will be decided after the court delivers its verdict in MLA Antony Raju’s case on Monday. Party-backed independent T Ashok Kumar will contest from Mahe in Puducherry. He said the LDF was confident of retaining officers for the third consecutive time as it was crucial for the establishment of a new Kerala and the fight against communal militancy. However, Opposition MP VD Satheesan on Sunday claimed that the UDF will form the government in the state. He said the UDF’s complete list of candidates would be announced on Monday. Addressing a press conference in Kochi, he said the selection of candidates will focus on winning ability. “The UDF team is heading towards the elections with confidence and hope. The front will return to power in Kerala with more than 100 seats,” Satishan said. He predicted the success of UDF’s “Mission 26” and said that “Mission 25” has already secured 4 companies and 7 regional juries, with 2 more on the way. While the CPM tries to promote the popularity of its MLAs, personal popularity does not determine electoral success; Satishan said the political environment does.