Thiruvananthapuram

Rajeev Chandrasekhar, the Kerala unit chief of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), on Monday welcomed the party’s first list of 47 candidates for the upcoming Kerala Legislative Assembly election 2026, calling it a strong and representative line-up.

Speaking to ANI, Chandrasekhar thanked the party leadership for fielding him from the Nemom Assembly constituency and said the announcement reflected the BJP’s seriousness about the upcoming polls in Kerala.

“Today’s announcement of the first list of 47 candidates shows how serious we are about this election. There is a serving Central minister and two former ministers, two former presidents of the party, seven members from the SC community and four Christian candidates who are contesting this election. This is a very well-represented list of candidates,” Chandrasekhar said.

He also described the upcoming polls as one of the most decisive elections in the political history of the state.

“I am really honoured to get the opportunity to contest. I start my campaign today with a roadshow and meeting voters,” he added.

The BJP released its first list of candidates a day after the Election Commission of India announced that polling for the 140-member state assembly would be held in a single phase on April 9.

Apart from Chandrasekhar, the list includes prominent leaders such as George Kurian, V Muraleedharan, K Surendran and Navya Haridas.

Union Minister George Kurian will contest from the Kanjirappally Assembly constituency, while V Muraleedharan has been fielded from Kazhakoottam Assembly constituency. Navya Haridas will contest from Kozhikode North Assembly constituency and former Kerala BJP president K Surendran from Manjeshwar Assembly constituency.

According to the poll schedule announced by the Election Commission, counting of votes will take place on May 4.

The Model Code of Conduct has come into force with the announcement of the election schedule and will remain in effect until the completion of the electoral process for the 140-member Kerala Legislative Assembly, also known as the Kerala Niyamasabha.

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The tenure of the current assembly is set to end on May 23. The last date for filing nominations is March 23, while scrutiny of nominations will be held on March 24. Candidates will be allowed to withdraw their nominations until March 26.