Published Mar 09, 2026 | 1:58 PM ⚊ Updated Mar 09, 2026 | 1:58 PM
CPI Kerala.
Synopsis: The party has fielded R Rajendran in Chathanoor, replacing sitting MLA GS Jayalal. In Chadayamangalam, the CPI has retained J Chinchurani, who is currently serving as a minister in the state government. For Karunagapally, the party has nominated MS Thara, while C Ajayaprasad will contest from Punalur, replacing sitting MLA PS Supal.
The Communist Party of India (CPI) on Monday, 9 March, has finalised candidates for four Assembly constituencies in Kollam district ahead of the upcoming Assembly elections.
Out of the 11 Assembly seats in the district, the CPI will contest in four — Chathanoor Assembly constituency, Karunagapally Assembly constituency, Chadayamangalam Assembly constituency and Punalur Assembly constituency.
In the 2021 Assembly elections, the CPI had won three of these seats — Chathanoor, Chadayamangalam and Punalur — while Karunagapally was won by the United Democratic Front.
The party has fielded R Rajendran in Chathanoor, replacing sitting MLA GS Jayalal. In Chadayamangalam, the CPI has retained J Chinchurani, who is currently serving as a minister in the state government. For Karunagapally, the party has nominated MS Thara, while C Ajayaprasad will contest from Punalur, replacing sitting MLA PS Supal.
Except for Chadayamangalam, the CPI has denied tickets to its sitting MLAs in the other two constituencies it had won in 2021.
Party sources said the remaining candidates in other constituencies are expected to be announced later on Monday.
Earlier, as CPI prepared to finalise its candidate list dropped six of its sitting MLAs.
The decision followed the party’s norm of limiting MLAs to two terms. Even so, E Chandrasekharan (Kanhangad), EK Vijayan (Nadapuram), Chittayam Gopakumar (Adoor), GS Jayalal (Chathannoor), PS Supal (Punalur) and V Sasi (Chirayinkeezhu) had earlier received an exception to the rule and were allowed to secure third terms.
This time, the state executive has taken a strict position that the tenure principle must be enforced, with exemptions granted only in exceptional circumstances by district committees with proper justification.
If the rule is applied to the letter, MLAs CK Asha (Vaikom) and P Balachandran (Thrissur), who have each served two terms, could also be dropped.
These vacancies now open the door for fresh faces. Sources said more seats could go to representatives from youth and women’s organisations. A central directive has called for women candidates in at least three constituencies.
(With inputs from Dileep V Kumar)
