CPI(M) state secretary MV Govindan said on Saturday that the party would complete the process of selecting candidates for the assembly elections by March 8 or 9.
“Preliminary talks are going on. The CPI(M) and the Left Democratic Front (LDF) are going by the criteria of winning candidates while also considering those who are capable of leading the state,” Mr Govindan told the media after a meeting of the CPI(M) state secretariat here.
Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan will be the only member of the political bureau in the fray. In constituencies where the CPI(M) is certain of victory, the two-term provision — that those who have served two consecutive terms in the assembly will not be fielded — will be followed.
Mr Govindan said there had been a smear campaign against Health Minister Veena George for some time, even during her previous election contest. It strengthened after doing a commendable job in strengthening the public health sector. He reiterated the stand that the Kerala Students’ Union (KSU) had planned and carried out the ambush of the minister at the Kannur railway station by bringing in people from outside the district.
He termed the making of The Kerala Story 2: Goes Beyond — a sequel to the Center’s acclaimed film of the same name — as a case of political vendetta against the state. Right-wing extremists are promoting the film. While a single bench of the Supreme Court stayed the screening, a division bench struck it down. “But we should be extremely vigilant that the film does not cause a social flare-up in society,” he added.
Speaking about the Israeli-American attack on Iran, he said that US President Donald Trump is burning the world in an attempt to usurp all its resources.
Published – 28 Feb 2026 22:39 IST
