Thiruvananthapuram, March 2 (NationPress) As the Assembly elections approach, the coalition dynamics within Kerala's ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF) are intensifying.

The Communist Party of India (CPI), the second-largest partner in the Left coalition, announced on Monday that it will not renominate six legislators who have completed three consecutive terms, indicating a shift towards a younger leadership and adherence to its internal rotation policy.

The legislators who will not be seeking another term include Deputy Speaker Chittayam Gopakumar, P.S. Supal, E.K. Vijayan, V. Sasi, E.S. Jayalal, and former Minister E. Chandrasekheran.

This decision was reached during a meeting of the party's senior leadership.

In the 140-member Assembly elected in 2021, the CPI contested 23 seats, winning 17—a record the party aims to maintain even while adjusting its candidate list.

Simultaneously, seat-sharing talks within the LDF are ongoing, with the Communist Party of India-Marxist engaging in discussions with its allies.

The Kerala Congress (M), the third-largest ally in the Left Front, has officially requested an additional constituency for the upcoming elections.

"Indeed, we have requested one more seat than we contested previously," stated Kerala Congress (M) Chairman Jose K. Mani.

In 2021, the Kerala Congress (M) contested 12 Assembly seats.

All eyes are on the CPI-M, which leads the coalition, as it is set to finalize its candidate list during a State Secretariat meeting on Tuesday.

In the last Assembly election, the CPI-M contested 75 seats and achieved victory in 62.

The lists compiled by the 14 district committees have been reviewed, but it appears that several prominent figures may not be included in the final roster.

Among those reportedly absent are former Finance Minister Thomas Isaac, sitting MLA M.M. Mani, and former legislators P. Jayarajan and M. Swaraj.

Additionally, Politburo member A. Vijayaraghavan is also rumored to be out of the running.

M.M. Mani humorously remarked on Monday that he is unaware of the political shifts as he has been focused on party duties. When questioned about being dropped from the CPI-M list due to health reasons, he stated, "Apart from diabetes, I have no other issues. Many leaders in our party are also diabetic, including K.K. Jayachandran, who has been cleared by the district unit for my assembly seat."

There remains uncertainty regarding K.K. Shailaja's candidacy, with indications that Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan is eager for a high-profile contest against State Congress President and sitting legislator Sunny Joseph, although she favors defending her constituency.

Having received clearance from the CPI-M Politburo to lead the party's electoral campaign, Vijayan's discussions on Tuesday will likely emphasize the balance between continuity and necessary changes within the LDF.