As Kerala approaches the pivotal 2026 Assembly elections, the political ambit has shifted its attention to Pinarayi Vijayan and how he will fare this time around. Mr. Vijayan, the 12th Chief Minister of Kerala, has already secured his place in the annals of history by breaking the four-decade-old pendulum tradition in 2021. Now, as he leads the Left Democratic Front (LDF) towards the next elections, his journey from the handlooms of Pinarayi village in Kannur to the apex of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) warrants a meticulous revisit.

Mr. Vijayan hails from the volatile soil of Kannur. Born into dire poverty as the 14th child of a toddy tapper, his early life was a struggle for education and survival. As a man of few words, he is often called by his admirers as the ‘Captain’ who steered the State through the deluges of the 2018 floods and the global COVID-19 pandemic.

Throughout his 10-year tenure as the Chief Minister, Mr. Vijayan has weathered many headwinds. From his “secular” stance during the anti-CAA protests and his steadfast view on gender equality principles during the Sabarimala women’s entry controversy to allegations in the gold smuggling scandal to accusations of a nexus with ideological rivals, this has all been a significant part of his political journey.

With the 2026 Assembly elections approaching, questions surrounding the Kannur strongman are becoming increasingly critical. Will he remain an indispensable anchor of the Left, or has his decade of control created an incumbency weight that even his strategic acumen cannot lift?

Political timeline of Pinarayi Vijayan

1944: Born in Pinarayi, Kannur, to Mundayil Koran and Kalyani, his early life was financially unfavourable following his father’s early passing, leading to a temporary hiatus in his education to work in handloom weaving.

1964: While studying Economics at Brennan College, Thalassery, he entered active politics. He later rose to become the Kannur district secretary of the Kerala Students Federation (KSF) and later its State president and secretary.

1968: At 24 years old, he was inducted into the Kannur district committee of the CPI(M), which made his rapid ascent within the party’s hierarchy.

1970: He made his debut in the Kerala Legislative Assembly at age of 26, winning from the Koothuparamba constituency. He emerged as a young and vocal representative of the Marxist ideology.

1975-77: During the Emergency, he was arrested and subjected to severe police torture for his defiance against the Central government. He later returned to the Legislative Assembly following his release.

1988: He was elected to the CPI(M) State secretariat and consolidated his influence over the party’s decision-making apparatus.

1996-98: He served as the Minister for Electricity and Co-operation in Kerala, holding this portfolio in the LDF government headed by E.K. Nayanar.

1998-2015: He resigned from the Ministry to take over as the CPI(M) State secretary. He held this position for over 17 years, becoming the longest-serving State secretary in the party’s history. This period also marked an intense power struggle with the CPI(M) stalwart V.S. Achuthanandan.

2002: He was inducted into the CPI(M) Politburo, a position he continues to hold.

2007: He was briefly suspended from the Politburo along with Achuthanandan due to public display of internal disagreements. He was eventually reinstated.

2016:He led the LDF to a victory and was sworn in as the 12th Chief Minister of Kerala.

2018-19: This was a tumultuous period for Mr. Vijayan, where he faced his greatest administrative hurdles, including the devastating floods in August 2018, and the upheaval surrounding the Sabarimala women's entry verdict. He also suffered a hiccup in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections when the Left front lost 19 of the 20 seats to the rivals.

2020: The Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) came under fire in the gold smuggling case. Despite the arrest of his principal secretary M. Sivasankar, Mr. Vijayan was still able to lead the Left to a victory in the local body polls later that year.

2021: The LDF coalition achieved a historic second consecutive term, winning 99 seats. Pinarayi became the Chief Minister again. This “thudarbharanam” (continuity of mandate) broke a 40-year old tradition of alternating power in Kerala.

2021-25: He initiated big infrastructure projects, while evading corruption allegations from the Opposition UDF and the BJP. Towards the end of 2025, Pinarayi faced a stern test after the Left front put up a poor show in the local body elections

2026: Mr. Vijayan officially stepped down as the Chief Minister of Kerala following a crushing defeat for the LDF in the 2026 Assembly elections against the UDF.

Pinarayi vijayan interview

Pinarayi vijayan interview | Video Credit: The Hindu