NEW DELHI: The Bharatiya Janata Party on Monday released its second list of 39 candidates for the upcoming Kerala assembly elections, stepping up preparations for the high-stakes contest.
The party has fielded K Ranjith from Dharmadam, where he will take on Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, who also filed his nomination from the constituency.Former Mizoram Governor Kummanam Rajasekharan has been nominated from Aranmula. Other key candidates include Ashwini ML from Kasaragod, PR Sivasankar from Ernakulam, Vathsala Prasanna Kumar from Paravur, and Renu Suresh from Kongad, as the BJP looks to expand its footprint in the state.
Watch
Kerala Assembly Elections: LDF, BJP Roll Out Candidates As Congress Prepares For Crucial Poll Battle
The party had earlier announced its first list of 47 candidates on March 19, fielding its Kerala unit president Rajeev Chandrasekhar from the Nemom seat and former Union Minister of State for External Affairs V Muraleedharan from Kazhakoottam.Meanwhile, the Indian National Congress has already released a list of 55 candidates. Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee president Sunny Joseph will contest from Peravoor, while Leader of Opposition V D Satheesan has been fielded from Paravur.
Senior leader K Muraleedharan, son of former Chief Minister K. Karunakaran, will contest from Vattiyoorkavu.The 2026 Kerala Legislative Assembly elections will be held in a single phase on April 9, according to the Election Commission of India, with counting scheduled for May 4. The term of the current assembly is set to end on May 23, and the Model Code of Conduct is now in force for the 140-member House, also known as the Kerala Niyamasabha.The electoral battle is expected to be intense, with the BJP-led NDA and Congress-led UDF seeking to unseat the incumbent CPI(M)-led LDF, which has governed Kerala for nearly a decade.
Elections 2026 mark a pivotal year for democratic processes across various regions in India and globally. This includes key state assembly elections, local body polls, and by-elections that could significantly impact national-level politics. Get real-time updates, important dates, voting procedures, and verified news — all in one place. Whether you’re tracking results or exploring candidate profiles, this is your go-to hub for Elections 2026.
