Fronts enter Assembly election battle with seat targets; state moves into election mode

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: With clear seat targets, political fronts in the state have entered the Assembly election race, pushing the state into full election mode as seat-sharing and candidate selection talks begin. The CPM-led Left Democratic Front (LDF) has launched 'Mission 110' with the aim of winning 110 seats. The Congress-led UDF has announced 'Lakshya 2026' with a target of winning more than 100 seats. The BJP, aiming for 40 seats, has rolled out 'Mission 40'.

Aiming for a third consecutive term in power, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan presented 'Mission 110' after the cabinet meeting the other day. He said the Left did not suffer a major setback in the local body elections and fell behind in only 30 Assembly constituencies. He added that there is no anti-incumbency sentiment and that timely actions can help retain power. A sub-committee will be formed to oversee the campaign, and ministers will be assigned campaign duties for 50 days.

Confident of victory, the UDF believes that there is strong anti-incumbency sentiment against the state government. The Congress unveiled 'Lakshya 2026' at a leadership camp held in Wayanad recently. The plan outlines a strategy to help the UDF win more than 100 seats, with the Congress alone targetting over 70 seats.

The BJP, while not aiming for a clear majority, hopes to emerge as a dark horse by pushing for a hung Assembly. Its 'Mission 40' targets 40 seats, with special focus on 15 constituencies.

Left to highlight development achievements

• The LDF will adopt a balanced campaign strategy that highlights the government’s development achievements along with political messaging.
• As part of 'Mission 110,' the CPM plans to strengthen its social media presence, including explaining its stand on issues such as Sabarimala.
• Candidate selection discussions will begin after CPM central committee meetings scheduled for the 16th and 17th.

Congress says base is strong

• Confident that its grassroots support is solid, the Congress plans to announce candidates soon. Seat-sharing talks are expected to be completed by the 20th.
• The Congress Central Election Committee will visit Kerala on the 13th and 14th to begin candidate selection discussions.
• The first list of candidates is expected this month, with the remaining names to be announced next month.

BJP aims for tight campaign

• Union Minister Amit Shah will launch the BJP’s election campaign in Thiruvananthapuram on the 11th of this month.
• Candidate selection will begin after the campaign launch.
• The BJP aims to run a well-planned and gap-free campaign to ensure the victory of key leaders, including state president Rajeev Chandrasekhar.