Kerala State Assembly Elections 2026: Sitting CM & Ministers

As the 2026 State Assembly elections approach, the spotlight has shifted to the sitting Ministers within the Left Democratic Front (LDF) in Kerala.

The Cabinet includes 11 Ministers from the CPI(M) and four from the CPI, with the Kerala Congress (M), Janata Dal (S) which has since been merged with Indian Socialist Janata Dal, Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar), Congress (Secular), National Secular Conference, and Kerala Congress (B), each contributing one Minister.

CPI (M) leader A. N. Shamseer is the Speaker and CPI’s Chittayam Gopakumar the Deputy Speaker of the current Legislative Assembly. Kerala Congress (M) MLA N. Jayaraj is the Chief Whip.

Here is a recap of the Council of Ministers in the State.

Pinarayi Vijayan – CPI(M)

Pinarayi Vijayan secured a decisive victory in the 2021 Legislative Assembly election in Dharmadam, winning by a substantial margin of 50,123 votes. He received 59.61% of the total votes, while his closest competitor, C. Raghunathan from the Congress party, garnered 28.33% of the votes.

Mr. Vijayan’s portfolios include General Administration, All India Services, Planning and Economic Affairs, Science, Technology and Environment, Pollution Control, Scientific Institutes, Personnel and Administrative Reforms, Elections, Integration, Information Technology, Sainik Welfare, Distress Relief, State Hospitality, Airports, Metro Rail, Inter-State River Waters, Coastal Shipping and Inland Navigation, Kerala State Inland Navigation Corporation, Information and Public Relations, Non-Resident Keralites’ Affairs, Home, Vigilance, Administration of Civil and Criminal Justice, Fire and Rescue Services, Prisons, Printing and Stationery, Welfare of Minorities, as well as all key policy matters and any subjects not specifically outlined elsewhere.

K. Rajan

K. Rajan of the Communist Party of India (CPI) won from the Ollur constituency, winning by a margin of 21,506 votes. He garnered a total of 76,657 votes while representing the Left Democratic Front (LDF).

As the Minister for Revenue and Housing, he heads the Land Revenue, Survey and Land Records, Land Reforms and Housing departments.

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Roshy Augustine

Roshy Augustine, a member of the Kerala Congress (M) party, won from the Idukki constituency in the 2021 Kerala Assembly elections with a total of 62,368 votes.

Designated as Minister for Water Resources, he’s in charge of Irrigation, Command Area Development Authority, Ground Water Department, Water Supply and Sanitation.

K. Krishnankutty

K. Krishnankutty of Janata Dal (Secular) won from the Chittur constituency by defeating Sumesh Achuthan from the Indian National Congress with a margin of 33,878 votes.

As the Minister for Electricity, his responsibilities encompass overseeing Electricity and ANERT.

A. K. Saseendran

A. K. Saseendran is a member of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP). He became the Minister of Forests and Wildlife in Kerala after winning the Elathur constituency with a majority of 38,502 ( 23.6 %) votes. His responsibilities include Forests and Wild life Protection.

Ramachandran Kadannappalli

Ramachandran Kadannappalli (Congress (Secular)) party is a veteran leader who had won from the Kannur constituency multiple times. In the 2021 Assembly elections, he won the Kannur seat with a margin of 1,745 votes (1.3%). He received a total of 60,313 votes with a vote share of 44.98%.

As the Minister for Registration, Museums and Archaeology, he’s responsible for overseeing Registration, Museums, Archaeology and Archives.

K. B. Ganeshkumar

K. B. Ganeshkumar, from the Pathanapuram constituency, is a member of the Kerala Congress (B) party. He won the 2021 Assembly elections with a total of 67,276 votes.

He is currently the Minister of Transport in Kerala, where he oversees responsibilities related to Road Transport, Motor Vehicles, and Water Transport.

V. Abdurahiman

V. Abdurahiman, a member of the National Secular Conference (NSC) under LDF, won the Tanur constituency in the Malappuram district of Kerala with a majority of 985 votes.

He’s the incumbent Minister for Sports, Waqf, and Haj, overseeing matters exclusive to Sports, Welfare of Minorities, Waqf and Haj Pilgrimage, Post & Telegraph and Railways.

G. R. Anil

The CPI leader, who contested the 2021 Assembly elections for the first time, won from the Nedumangad constituency with a majority of 23,309 votes.

He is currently serving as the Minister for Food and Civil Supplies, with responsibilities of Food and Civil Supplies, Consumer Affairs and Legal Metrology.

K. N. Balagopal

K. N. Balagopal represents the CPI(M) in the Kottarakara constituency and was elected to the Legislative Assembly by a margin of 10,814.

He is the incumbent Minister for Finance and has an extensive portfolio, including Finance, National Savings, Stores Purchase, Commercial Taxes, Agricultural Income Tax, Treasuries, Lotteries, State Audit, Kerala Financial Enterprises, State Insurance, Kerala Financial corporation, and Stamps and Stamp Duties.

R. Bindu

Dr. R. Bindu, representing CPI(M), won the 2021 Kerala Legislative Assembly election for the Irinjalakuda constituency in Thrissur district. She garnered 73,813 votes, achieving a majority of 11,059 votes over her closest competitor.

Serving as the Minister for Higher Education and Social Justice, her responsibilities include Collegiate Education, Technical Education, Universities(Except Agriculture, Veterinary, Fisheries, Medical and Digital Universities), Entrance Examinations, National Cadet Corps, Additional Skill Acquisition Programme(ASAP) and Social Justice

J. Chinchurani

She marked her debut by contesting for the 2021 legislative elections from the Chadayamangalam Assembly constituency, representing CPI, and won on her first attempt with a total of 67,252 votes.

Currently serving as the Minister for Animal Husbandry, her tasks include overseeing Animal Husbandry, Dairy Development, Milk Co-operatives, Zoos, and Kerala Veterinary & Animal Sciences University.

M. B. Rajesh

M. B. Rajesh contested in the Thrithala constituency of Palakkad district, securing a win with 69,814 votes, which accounts for a vote share of 45.84%. He represents the CPI(M). He functioned as the Speaker of the Kerala Legislative Assembly for a brief period.

Before 2021, he was also a two-time Member of Parliament (MP) for the Palakkad Lok Sabha constituency (2009–2019). Currently, Minister for Local Self-Governments, Excise & Parliamentary Affairs, his responsibilities pertain to Local Self Governments – Panchayats, Municipalities and Corporations, Excise, Rural Development, Town Planning, Regional Development Authorities, Kerala Institute of Local Administration, and Parliamentary Affairs.

P. A. Mohamed Riyas

P. A. Mohammed Riyas, leader of the CPI(M), emerged victorious in the 2021 Kerala Assembly election foromthe Beypore constituency. He garnered 82,165 votes, achieving a victory margin of 28,747 votes over his opponent from the Indian National Congress.

He’s the incumbent Minister for Public Works and Tourism, with duties associating with Public Works Department and Tourism.

P. Prasad

P. Prasad came out on top in the 2021 Kerala Assembly Election in the Cherthala constituency in Alappuzha district, representing the CPI. He received a total of 83,702 votes.

He serves as the Minister for Agriculture in Kerala, with his role warranting the oversight of Agriculture, Soil Survey & Soil Conservation, Kerala Agriculture University, and Warehousing Corporation.

O. R. Kelu

O.R. Kelu, representing the CPI(M), received a total of 72,536 votes in the 2021 Assembly elections, where he contested from the Mananthavady constituency.

He serves as the Minister for Welfare of Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, and Backward Classes, overseeing Welfare of Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Backward Classes.

P. Rajeeve

P. Rajeev of the CPI(M), the Minister for Industries, Law, and Coir, won the 2021 polls from the Kalamassery constituency, bagging 58,644 votes. The senior CPI(M) leader was also a former Rajya Sabha member.

His comprehensive portfolio includies Law, Industries (Including Industrial co-operatives), Commerce, Mining and Geology, Handlooms and Textiles, Khadi and Village Industries, Coir, Cashew Industry, and Plantation Directorate.

V. Sivankutty

V. Sivankutty secured victory in the Nemom constituency as a candidate of CPI(M), representing the Left Democratic Front (LDF). He received a total of 55,837 votes.

He is the Minister for General Education and Labour, overseeing General Education, Literacy Movement, Labour, Employment and Training, Skills, Rehabilitation, Factories and Boilers, Insurance Medical Service, Industrial Tribunals, and Labour Courts.

V. N. Vasavan

V. N. Vasavan, representing the CPI(M), won from the Ettumanoor Assembly constituency in the 2021 elections. He secured a total of 58,289 votes.

He is the incumbent Minister for Co-operation, Ports and Devaswoms with portfolios on respective divisions.

Veena George

In the 2021 Kerala Legislative Assembly election, Veena George won from the Aranmula constituency, where she represented the CPI(M). She received a total of 74,950 votes.

She was appointed as the Minister for Health and Family Welfare, and portfolio encompasses Health, Family Welfare, Medical Education, Medical University, Indigenous Medicine, AYUSH, Drugs Control, and Woman & Child Welfare.

Saji Cherian

Saji Cherian, of the CPI(M), represents the Chengannur Assembly constituency in the Alappuzha district, having won the 2021 elections with a total vote count of 71,502.

He is currently the Minister for Fisheries, Culture, and Youth Affairs in the Kerala government, overseeing Fisheries, Harbour Engineering, Fisheries University, Youth Affairs, Culture, Kerala State Film Development Corporation, Kerala State Chalachitra Academy, and Kerala State Cultural Activists Welfare Fund Board.