Thiruvananthapuram, February 26 – In a significant move ahead of the Assembly elections, the CPI(M) has dropped actor-turned-legislator Mukesh, a two-time MLA from Kollam, from its list of sitting members who are expected to be renominated.
This move comes even as the party clears the nomination of most key ministers, highlighting a selective approach to continuity and change.
Among those who have received the green signal are senior ministers, including M.B. Rajesh, Saji Cherian, O.R. Kelu, P. Rajeeve, K.N. Balagopal, V.N. Vasavan, Veena George, P. A. Mohammed Riyas, and V. Sivankutty.
The message is clear: maintaining governance continuity will be the key to the Left's campaign as it seeks to retain Kerala, which is now its last remaining stronghold in the country.
However, Higher Education Minister R. Bindu is likely to step aside, with indications that her husband, CPI(M) Politburo member A. Vijayaraghavan, may be fielded instead.
Other names under consideration include P.K. Shymala, the wife of State CPI-M secretary M.V. Govindan, while two-time sitting legislator U. Prathibha’s name is missing, along with the name of Speaker A.M. Shamseer.
Notably, the informal norm introduced in recent years, that legislators who have completed two consecutive terms should make way for newcomers, appears to have been set aside.
With Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan aiming for a historic third straight term, electoral pragmatism seems to have overtaken internal rotation principles.
There are also signs of reconsideration.
Two-time former Finance Minister Thomas Isaac, who was previously excluded, may return to the fray.
Senior legislator K.K. Shailaja remains in suspense.
Meanwhile, journalist-turned-politician M.V. Nikesh Kumar, who unsuccessfully contested in 2016, and social media figure Chintha Jerome are absent from district-level clearances.
However, according to the CPI(M), even if a lower committee decides against any candidate, the higher committees can make changes, and therefore, those who appear to have been left out, can still make a comeback.
In 2021, the CPI(M) contested 75 seats and won 62, a performance it now seeks to replicate, or even better, as it positions itself for an unprecedented third mandate in Kerala.
