At least 271 more candidates, including the Leader of the Opposition in outgoing House VS Achuthananadan and CPI (M) Politburo member Pinarayi Vijayan, filed their nominations in Kerala on Monday (yesterday).

Practically all candidates of the Indian Union Muslim League (second largest partner of the ruling Congress-led United Democratic Front, UDF), except its tallest leader and minister, PK Kunhalikkutty, filed their nominations.

PROMINENT CANDIDATES

Pinarayi Vijayan, the likely chief ministerial candidate, filed his papers at the Kannur Collectorate after paying a visit to Sarada teacher, wife of late chief minister EK Nayanar.

He was accompanied by party leaders MV Jayarajan and KK Ragesh. Achuthanandan (Malampuzha) filed his nomination in Palakkad and was accompanied by prominent leaders from the CPI (M) in the area.

Others who filed papers on the day included PK Jayalakshmi (Mananthavady), Minister for the Welfare of Backward Communities in the outgoing cabinet, and Palode Ravi, Deputy Speaker (Nedumangad).

Among the UDF candidates filing their nomination papers were PC Vishnunath (Chengannur), KS Sabarinathan (Aruvikkara), and V Surendran Pillai (Nemom).

OTHER CANDIDATES

Those in the Left Democratic Front (LDF) included TN Seema (Vattiyoorkavu), Jameela Prakasham (Kovalam), AA Rasheed (Aruvikkara), C Divakaran (Nedumangad), Antony Raju (Thiruvananthapuram) and V Sivakutty (Nemom).

From the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA), PS Sreedharan Pillai (Chengannur) and PK Krishnadas (Kattakkada) also filed their papers.

On Monday, the most number of papers (36) were filed in Palakkad district and the least (six) in Pathanamthitta. Malapuuram received 34; Ernakulam 28; Kannur 27; Kozhikode 26; Thrissur 25; Thiruvananthapuram 21; and Wayanad 12. The last date for filing nominations is April 29.

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