THE CPI(M) led Left Democratic Front in Kerala has announced its list of 124 candidates for the elections to the 140 member Kerala legislative assembly. There are 12 women and 11 independent candidates in the list. CPI(M) will be contesting in 92 constituencies.  Candidates for 16 constituencies including two CPI(M) seats will be announced later, LDF convener Vaikom Vishwan said at a press conference in Thiruvananthapuram on March 30, 2016.

The main candidates from the CPI(M) are former state secretary and Polit Bureau member Pinarayi Vijayan, who is contesting from Dharmadam in Kannur district, opposition leader and former chief minister VS Achuthanandan from Malampuzha in Palakkad district, Central Committee members KK Shailaja from Koothuparambu, EP Jayarajan from Mattannur, Dr TM Thomas Isaac from Alappuzha and AK Balan from Tharoor. State secretariat members TP Ramakrishnan will contest from Perambra, MM Mani will contest from Udumbanchola.

Eminent film actor Mukesh (Kollam), journalist and former Lok Sabha member Dr Sebastian Paul (Thrikkakara), news channel anchors MV Nikesh Kumar (Edakkad) and Veena George (Aranmula) will contest as independents backed by the LDF. DYFI state secretary M Swaraj (Thripunithura) and SFI state president Jaik C Thomas (Puthuppali) are among the candidates.

Apart from KK Shailaja and Veena George J Mercikutti Amma (Kundara), KK Lathika (Kuttiadi), Dr TN Seema (Vattiyoorkavu), Adv. Aysha Potti (Kottarakkara), KP Sumathi (Malappuram), Subaida Ishaq (Thrithala), Mary Thomas (Vadakkancheri), Rugmini Subramanian (Sultan Batheri), Shiji Shivaji (Kunnathunadu), Adv. U Prathibha Hari (Kayamkulam) are the women candidates put up by CPI(M). CPI too included four women in its list of 27 candidates. CPI has fielded JNU research scholar and AISF leader Muhammed Muhsin from Pattambi constituency.

Janadhipathya Kerala Congress will contest in four seats and Indian National League, Congress (S), Kerala Congress (Skaria Thomas), RSP (Leninist), Kerala Congress(B),  will contest in one seat each.