Written by Shaju PhilipThiruvananthapuram | January 19, 2026 04:31 AM IST 2 min readTHE CPI(M) on Sunday made clear that Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan will continue to lead the party-led Left Democratic Front (LDF) in the upcoming Assembly elections. Vijayan was the face of the LDF in the 2016 and 2021 elections, which were marked by massive verdict in favour of the alliance.After the party central committee meeting, which reviewed the party’s poll preparations in five states, CPI(M) general secretary M A Baby told reporters, “The Chief Minister, who has led a government that implemented unparalleled developmental initiatives in the history of Kerala, will be leading the political fight. In the LDF, he is the most prominent, efficient and popular leader. At the same time, leaders of the LDF allies will also be in lead roles.’’“In the Congress-led UDF, there are many leaders eying the Chief Minister’s post. The LDF will have a collective leadership and Vijayan will be leading that collective in the elections. On the question of who will be the Chief Minister if the LDF is voted to power, the party will decide then. We have no practice of declaring the CM in advance,’’ he said.In the 2021 Assembly elections, the CPI(M) had decided not to give tickets to party legislators who had completed two consecutive terms in the Assembly. On whether this condition will remain in force in the coming elections, Baby said, “The conditions which were once introduced do not need to continue. The party will review the situation and conditions will be incorporated accordingly. The central committee has not discussed the conditions…”Shaju Philip is a Senior Assistant Editor at The Indian Express, where he leads the publication's coverage from Kerala. With over 25 years of experience in mainstream journalism, he is one of the most authoritative voices on the socio-political, religious, and developmental landscape of South India. Expertise, Experience, and Authority Decades of Regional Specialization: Shaju has spent more than two decades documenting the "Kerala Model" of development, its complex communal dynamics, and its high-stakes political environment. Key Coverage Beats: His extensive reporting portfolio includes: Political & Governance Analysis: In-depth tracking of the LDF and UDF coalitions, the growth of the BJP in the state, and the intricate workings of the Kerala administration. Crime & Investigative Journalism: Noted for his coverage of high-profile cases such as the gold smuggling probe, political killings, and the state’s counter-terrorism efforts regarding radicalization modules. Crisis Management: He has led ground-level reporting during major regional crises, including the devastating 2018 floods, the Nipah virus outbreaks, and the Covid-19 pandemic response. ... Read MoreStay updated with the latest - Click here to follow us on Instagram© The Indian Express Pvt LtdTags:KeralaPinarayi Vijayan