<p>Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, who is contesting the Apr 6 assembly polls from the Dharmadam constituency in Kannur district, filed his nomination papers on Monday.</p>.<p>Vijayan, who submitted two sets of papers, arrived at the Kannur Collectorate at around 11 AM following Covid-19 protocols.</p>.<p>The 76-year-old marxist leader, wearing a face shield, mask and gloves, was accompanied by party leaders including CPI(M)'s Kannur district secretary M V Jayarajan.</p>.<p>In a tweet, Vijayan said, "Submitted my nomination as Dharmadam's LDF candidate. Development and welfare projects implemented over the last 5 years need to be strengthened further. We will stand with the people to ensure a prosperous Kerala. People wholeheartedly say #LDFforSure and we are confident."</p>.<p>The ruling CPI(M)-led Left Democratic Front (LDF), is hoping to break the jinx of rival fronts coming to power alternately this time.</p>.<p><strong><a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/national/palakkads-lost-glory-will-be-regained-metro-man-launches-kerala-poll-campaign-962187.html" target="_blank">Read | 'Palakkad's lost glory will be regained', 'Metro Man' launches Kerala poll campaign</a></strong></p>.<p>This is the second time Vijayan is trying his luck from Dharmadam, a picturesque constituency spread over Kannur and Thalassery taluks in the district.</p>.<p>The only Politburo member of the CPI(M) to be contesting, this is Vijayan's sixth election to the state Assembly.</p>.<p>Earlier, he had represented Kuthuparamba in Kannur thrice in the House--1970, 1977 and 1991 and in 1996 he was elected from Payyannur.</p>.<p>In 2016, he won from Dharmadam and is trying his luck again from the constituency.</p>.<p>Vijayan was the Power Minister in the E K Nayanar cabinet from 1996 to 1998 and was appointed CPI(M) state secretary following the death of incumbent Chadayan Govindan.</p>.<p>In the 2016 assembly polls, the LDF rode to power with a massive majority of 91 seats in the 140-member Assembly and Vijayan was appointed the Chief Minister.</p>.<p>The BJP has fielded C K Padmanabhan, a former state president, the Congress-led UDF had allotted the seat to its ally Forward Bloc.</p>.<p>However, G Devarajan, Forward Bloc chief in Kerala, who was to contest, said the party has decided to hand the seat, back to the Congress reportedly following directions from the central leadership.</p>.<p>The UDF has not yet announced a new candidate.</p>.<p>"The Dharmadamseat was allotted to us, but we have decided to return the seat to the Congress", Devarajan told media.</p>
<p>Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, who is contesting the Apr 6 assembly polls from the Dharmadam constituency in Kannur district, filed his nomination papers on Monday.</p>.<p>Vijayan, who submitted two sets of papers, arrived at the Kannur Collectorate at around 11 AM following Covid-19 protocols.</p>.<p>The 76-year-old marxist leader, wearing a face shield, mask and gloves, was accompanied by party leaders including CPI(M)'s Kannur district secretary M V Jayarajan.</p>.<p>In a tweet, Vijayan said, "Submitted my nomination as Dharmadam's LDF candidate. Development and welfare projects implemented over the last 5 years need to be strengthened further. We will stand with the people to ensure a prosperous Kerala. People wholeheartedly say #LDFforSure and we are confident."</p>.<p>The ruling CPI(M)-led Left Democratic Front (LDF), is hoping to break the jinx of rival fronts coming to power alternately this time.</p>.<p><strong><a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/national/palakkads-lost-glory-will-be-regained-metro-man-launches-kerala-poll-campaign-962187.html" target="_blank">Read | 'Palakkad's lost glory will be regained', 'Metro Man' launches Kerala poll campaign</a></strong></p>.<p>This is the second time Vijayan is trying his luck from Dharmadam, a picturesque constituency spread over Kannur and Thalassery taluks in the district.</p>.<p>The only Politburo member of the CPI(M) to be contesting, this is Vijayan's sixth election to the state Assembly.</p>.<p>Earlier, he had represented Kuthuparamba in Kannur thrice in the House--1970, 1977 and 1991 and in 1996 he was elected from Payyannur.</p>.<p>In 2016, he won from Dharmadam and is trying his luck again from the constituency.</p>.<p>Vijayan was the Power Minister in the E K Nayanar cabinet from 1996 to 1998 and was appointed CPI(M) state secretary following the death of incumbent Chadayan Govindan.</p>.<p>In the 2016 assembly polls, the LDF rode to power with a massive majority of 91 seats in the 140-member Assembly and Vijayan was appointed the Chief Minister.</p>.<p>The BJP has fielded C K Padmanabhan, a former state president, the Congress-led UDF had allotted the seat to its ally Forward Bloc.</p>.<p>However, G Devarajan, Forward Bloc chief in Kerala, who was to contest, said the party has decided to hand the seat, back to the Congress reportedly following directions from the central leadership.</p>.<p>The UDF has not yet announced a new candidate.</p>.<p>"The Dharmadamseat was allotted to us, but we have decided to return the seat to the Congress", Devarajan told media.</p>