Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, who is contesting the April 6 Assembly polls in the state from Dharmadam constituency, filed his nomination papers on Monday morning.
Vijayan, who submitted two sets of papers, arrived at the Kannur collectorate at around 11 AM.
In light of the COVID-19 restrictions, the CPM has avoided marches of workers and gatherings of party supporters during the filing of nomination papers. Pinarayi has been backed by CPM leaders CN Chandran and P Balan in the nomination papers.
Pinarayi Vijayan is a five-term MLA in Kerala. But this is his only second election from Dharmadom, the constituency he represents currently in Kerala Assembly. He contested from this seat for the first time in 2016, when he became the Kerala chief minister.
His first victory in a Kerala Assembly election came in 1970 when he was just 25. He became Kerala chief minister at 71, and now roughly two months short of celebrating his 76th birthday, Pinarayi Vijayan eyes a second consecutive term at power in the state.
Pinarayi Vijayan has been a member of Kerala Assembly from Kuthuparamba three times (1970, 1977 and 1991), Payyapnur (1996) and Dharmadom, also spelt as Dharmadam (2016). He is seeking his sixth term in Kerala Assembly.
In a tweet, Vijayan said, “Submitted my nomination as Dharmadam”s LDF candidate. Development and welfare projects implemented over the last 5 years need to be strengthened further. We will stand with the people to ensure a prosperous Kerala. People wholeheartedly say #LDFforSure and we are confident.”
The ruling CPI(M)-led Left Democratic Front (LDF), is hoping to break the jinx of rival fronts coming to power alternately this time.
It is hinted that he has mentioned the controversial Lavalin case in the nomination paper.
Earlier, the Election Commission has informed that details of criminal cases against the candidates should be added to the nomination paper.
Ports Minister Ramachandran Kadannappally too filed his nomination papers as the LDF candidate from Kannur.
