• Source:JND
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The voting for the much-hyped Keralam Assembly election will be held on April 9 with the results set to be announced on May 4. While the Pinarayi Vijayan-led Left Democratic Front (LDF) is contesting to repeat its government, the United Democratic Front (UDF) will try to make a comeback after a decade. Apart from this, the BJP-led NDA is also contesting to mark its presence, especially in the urban regions, in the poll-bound state.

Along with the campaign, the ticket distribution strategies of the two leading alliances are very different from each other. An analysis of the candidates of LDF and the UDF in the polls in 2021 and 2026 shows that the ruling LDF has expressed faith in the sitting MLAs. However, the opposition alliance has changed several candidates to ensure their return to power after a decade.

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The CPI(M)-led alliance has given tickets to 69 sitting MLAs from their current constituencies. While 48 of them are from the CPI(M), 6 belong to the CPI, and 15 candidates are from the local parties. Earlier in 2021 Assembly polls, these candidates managed to win by an average margin of 16,300 votes. The data from the Election Commission suggests that 11 of them won above 50 per cent of the vote share in their seats.

The ruling alliance has also dropped 26 MLAs, possibly to counter the anti-incumbency, including former state health minister KK Shailaja. However, the opposition alliance, after losing two consecutive elections, has decided to field 27 sitting MLAs, including 16 from the Congress and 7 from the IUML. Apart from this, the UDF has changed its candidates in 99 seats, including 11 sitting MLAs.

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Apart from this, the BJP has decided to field new candidates to turn its fortune in the southern state. The NDA could not open its account in the 2021 Assembly election.


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