CPI(M) and CPI Announce Candidates for Kerala Assembly Elections 2026

The Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPI(M)) and its ally, the Communist Party of India (CPI), have announced their candidates for the Kerala Assembly elections scheduled for April 9, 2026. CPI(M) will contest 86 seats, including 56 sitting MLAs, with Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan contesting from Dharmadam and former health minister K.K. Shailaja shifted to Peravoor. CPI has fielded 25 candidates, including four incumbent ministers and several two-term legislators. Both parties emphasized a united Left Democratic Front (LDF) campaign amid challenges like peak summer campaigning and limited financial resources.