Kerala’s captain set for a third consecutive term

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Pinarayi Vijayan, who steered Kerala through multiple crises with a steady mind and firm leadership, will once again lead the Left in the upcoming Assembly elections. The CPM Politburo, which met in Delhi on Friday, confirmed him as the alliance’s chief ministerial face. With this decision, Pinarayi Vijayan has created history by becoming the first Communist leader in the state to contest a second consecutive Assembly election while serving as Chief Minister. If he secures another term, it would mark yet another significant chapter in his political legacy.

Although CPM leader E.K. Nayanar served as Chief Minister for 11 years in multiple terms, no one has held the position for 10 consecutive years. Similarly, no other party secretary has led the Kerala CPM continuously for 17 years.

From Cyclone Ockhi, Nipah outbreak, and the Kerala floods to COVID-19 and the Wayanad landslide, Pinarayi Vijayan has faced every crisis head-on since becoming Chief Minister, guiding the state without faltering.

Born on May 24, 1945, in Kannur as the son of Maroli Koran and Alakkat Kalyani, Vijayan entered politics through student activism with the Kerala Students Federation (KSF). While pursuing a degree in Economics at Brennen College, Thalassery, he became the KSF Kannur District Secretary, and later the State Secretary. During his student political activities, he faced police assaults multiple times. He became a member of the Communist Party in 1964.

At the age of 25, in 1970, he was elected to the Kerala Legislative Assembly from the Kuthuparamba constituency, becoming the youngest legislator at the time. He was re-elected from the same constituency in 1977 and 1991. Vijayan also won from Payyanur in 1996, and from Dharmadom in 2016 and 2021. He served as Kerala CPM State Secretary from 1998 to 2015 and became a member of the Politburo in 2002. Currently, he represents the Dharmadom constituency.