Thiruvananthapuram, March 15 (NationPress) As the Kerala Assembly elections announcement approaches this Sunday, the distinct levels of readiness among the three primary political factions have become evident. The ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF) appears to be significantly ahead of its competitors in terms of candidate finalization and seat allocation.

Within the LDF, comprising ten parties, both the Communist Party of India-Marxist and the Communist Party of India have nearly completed their candidate selection following internal deliberations, reaching a broad consensus on their lists.

Sources within the party suggest that discussions with smaller allies are close to finalization, indicating that the ruling coalition may soon reveal an almost complete candidate list.

The LDF enters this election cycle from a position of strength, buoyed by its strong performance in the 2021 Assembly elections.

In the previous 140-member Assembly, the CPI-M-led front won 99 seats, while the opposition Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) secured just 41.

Additionally, the National Democratic Alliance was unable to retain the single seat it had claimed in 2016.

The vote share data from the last Assembly election reflects the ruling front's advantage, with the LDF garnering 45.43% of the votes, compared to 39.47% for the UDF and 12.41% for the BJP-led NDA.

Conversely, the eight-party UDF is still grappling with several critical issues.

The Congress, as the leading party in the coalition, has yet to finalize its candidate list.

Crucially, negotiations regarding seat-sharing with vital allies, including the Indian Union Muslim League and the Kerala Congress-Joseph, remain unresolved.

Typically, the Congress contests approximately 90 seats, with the remaining constituencies distributed among partners such as the IUML, various factions of the Kerala Congress led by P. J. Joseph and Anup Jacob, the Revolutionary Socialist Party, and the Communist Marxist Party.

Historically, these seat-sharing discussions have been the most delicate aspect of the UDF’s pre-election strategy, and early indications suggest this election cycle will be no exception.

On the other hand, the BJP-led NDA is unlikely to encounter similar complexities.

The Bharatiya Janata Party, as the leading partner in the alliance, is expected to control the majority of seats, followed by allies like the Bharath Dharma Jana Sena and the Twenty20 party, led by businessman-turned-politician Sabu M. Jacob, which has a foothold in several Assembly constituencies within Ernakulam district.

As the electoral battle is set to officially commence, the speed at which alliances finalize their internal arrangements could be pivotal in establishing early campaign momentum.