Kerala 2026 Assembly elections: Pinarayi Vijayan files Dharmadom nomination, eyes seventh Assembly term

Pinarayi Vijayan on Thursday filed his nomination papers from the Dharmadom Assembly constituency in Kerala’s Kannur district, formally entering the fray for the upcoming state elections.

The 80-year-old CPI(M) veteran submitted his papers at the Thalassery Sub Registrar Office around 11 am, where they were received by Kannur registrar A B Sathyan. He was accompanied by key party leaders, including district secretary K K Ragesh, senior leader E P Jayarajan, Assembly Speaker A N Shamseer, and his political secretary P Sasi.

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Vijayan is seeking election to the state Assembly for the seventh time in his political career and is contesting from Dharmadom for the third time. He has previously represented Kuthuparamba three times and Payyannur once.

The Congress-led UDF has fielded V P Abdul Rasheed against him, while the BJP has nominated K Ranjith, setting up a multi-cornered contest in the constituency.

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A day ahead of filing his nomination, Vijayan had kick-started his campaign with a roadshow in Dharmadom, signalling the start of an intense electoral battle in one of the state’s key constituencies.