Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan Will Contest From Dharmadom Constituency
Pinarayi Vijayan has filed the nomination from Dharmadom Constituency; he is contesting the Assembly election for the seventh time in his political career.
Thiruvananthapuram : Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan filed his nomination papers from the Dharmadam assembly constituency in Kannur district on Thursday.
This is the third time Pinarayi is contesting from the Dharmadam constituency. The chief minister submitted his nomination at the Thalassery Sub Registrar's Office. His nomination coincided with the observance of EMS Day, marking the death anniversary of Marxist leader and Kerala’s first chief minister, E. M. S. Namboodiripad.
After filing his papers, the chief minister wrote on Facebook, “I am submitting my nomination as the LDF candidate from Dharmadam constituency on EMS Day.”
Pinarayi was accompanied by CPM Kannur district secretary K K Ragesh, senior party leader E P Jayarajan, Speaker of the Kerala Legislative Assembly A N Shamseer, and political secretary P Sasi.
Pinarayi Vijayan has contested seven times in the state assembly elections, having earlier contested from Koothuparamba three times and once from the Payyannur constituency.
At 80, Pinarayi was granted an exemption by CPM from the age bar for contesting elections. The party decided to waive the rule requiring retirement at 75 from holding top posts and limiting leaders to two consecutive terms in elected positions. This decision by the was endorsed by the CPM politburo and central committee.
The Chief Minister is aiming for a third term for the LDF, banking on his government’s track record in development and social welfare initiatives. The Congress has fielded Youth Congress state general secretary V P Abdul Rasheed, while the BJP has nominated K Ranjith to challenge the Chief Minister.
In the 2021 polls, Pinarayi defeated his nearest Congress rival, C Raghunath, by a margin of 50,234 votes from Dharmadam. In 2016, the chief minister's victory margin was 36,905.
