Kerala Assembly Elections 2026: CPI(M) releases list of 81 candidates, CM Vijayan to seek mandate from Dharmadam

Kerala Assembly Elections 2026: CPI(M) state secretary M V Govindan, on Sunday, released the list of 81 candidates, including six party-backed independents, who would contest in the 9 April state assembly elections.

While Kerala CM Vijayan will seek his mandate from his sitting seat Dharmadam assembly segment in northern Kannur district, senior leader and former health minister K K Shailaja will try her luck from Peravoor constituency in Kannur, reported news wire PTI.

Track the latest updates on Assembly Election dates here

Ten of Vijayan's cabinet colleagues will also contest in the state assembly election, the ruling CPI(M) said on Sunday.

Kerala Assembly Election 2026 date

The Election Commission of India (ECI), on Sunday, announced the dates for assembly polls in four states – including Kerala – and a Union Territory.

In Kerala, the elections would be held in a single phase on 9 April – with the counting scheduled to take place on 4 May.

The CPI(M)-led LDF is eyeing a third consecutive term this time.

Which other states are headed for Assembly polls?

Here's the full schedule of upcoming Assembly polls:

Assam: 1 phase — Voting on 9th April 2026; counting on 4th may

Puducherry: 1 phase — voting on 9th April; counting on 4th may

Tamil Nadu: 1 phase — Voting on 23rd April; counting on 4 may

West Bengal: Two phases (152+142) — Voting on 23rd April and 29th April; counting on 4th May

The Assembly elections in Kerala is largely expected to be a contest between the ruling Communist Party of India (Marxist)-led Left Democratic Front (LDF) and the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF). The Bharatiya Janata Party-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) is also looking to make inroads in the state.

Who won how many seats in 2021?

In the 2021 Assembly elections, the LDF retained power, winning 99 of the 140 seats, while the UDF secured 41. The National Democratic Alliance (NDA) has no representation in the outgoing Assembly.

The term of Kerala’s current Assembly ends on May 23, 2026.

This year's Assembly elections in the state come amid multiple issues including the arrest of top CPI(M) leaders in the Sabarimala gold case, infrastructure, health, education, the state-Centre tussle on finances, human-wildlife conflict, and alleged links of political parties with Muslim outfit Jamaat-e-Islami, mentioned a report by HT.

What LDF could focus on

Campaigning under the slogan of “Who else, but LDF?” – the alliance has reportedly said it will highlight the achievements of the last 10 years of the Pinarayi Vijayan-led government, particularly in infrastructure, industry, IT, health, and education sectors, and rehabilitation post the 2018 floods, 2020-21 Covid-19 pandemic, and the 2024 Wayanad landslide, reported HT.

The LDF is also expected to showcase several flagship projects, including national highway expansion works, the Vizhinjam International Port, the GAIL pipeline, Kochi Metro, and the township being built for survivors of the Wayanad landslide.