T’puram/ Kochi: CPM on Sunday announced it will contest 86 assembly seats in Kerala and named 81 candidates, including six CPM-backed Independents and 10 women. Soon after, many CPM candidates took to the streets, organised rallies, and began campaigning on Sunday itself. CPM state secretary, M V Govindan, said that of the 86 candidates, 75 will be from the party. Independent candidates in five constituencies – Koduvally, Kottakkal, Palakkad, Kondotty, and Tirur – will be named later, he added. Chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan will contest from Dharmadom. Eleven of his cabinet colleagues and 54 sitting MLAs will also contest again. Govindan also said the candidate for Thiruvananthapuram central will be decided after the court gives its verdict on the case against MLA Antony Raju on Monday. Party-backed Independent T Ashok Kumar will contest from Mahe in Puducherry. He said LDF is confident of retaining officer for the third consecutive time, as this is crucial to build a Nava Keralam and oppose communal forces. However, opposition Congress’ V D Satheesan on Sunday claimed that UDF will form a govt in the state. He said UDF’s full list of candidates will be released on Monday. The selection of candidates is focused on winnability, he told a press conference in Kochi. “Team UDF is approaching the elections with confidence and hope. The front will return to power in Kerala with over 100 seats,” Satheesan said. He predicted the success of UDF’s ‘Mission 26’, saying that ‘Mission 25’ has already secured four corporations and seven district panchayats, with two more within reach. Though the CPM is trying to project a narrative that its MLAs are popular, individual popularity does not determine electoral success; political circumstances do, Satheesan said.
