Alappuzha (Kerala) | The ruling CPI(M), which is set to face rebel leader G Sudhakaran in the Ambalapuzha constituency, has kick-started its election campaign hours before the official poll announcement and the party’s candidate declaration.

Wall graffiti for CPI(M) sitting MLA H Salam, carrying his name and the party emblem, began appearing in various parts of the Ambalapuzha constituency from Sunday morning.

Some of the campaign murals were also seen near the house of former Chief Minister V S Achuthanandan at Punnapra here.

The CPI(M) is expected to face a challenge from Sudhakaran, who recently decided not to renew his party membership and to contest the election as an independent after expressing anger over alleged personal attacks by party cadres on social media.

Ambalapuzha is considered a stronghold of the Left party, which has been winning the seat consecutively since 2006.

Sudhakaran had won the seat in 2006, 2011 and 2016 before he was denied another chance in 2021.

In the 2021 Assembly election, Salam, a close aide of Sudhakaran, contested and won the seat.

However, after the 2021 election, Sudhakaran’s relationship with the CPI(M)’s district leadership deteriorated as he alleged that he was sidelined within the party.

Following his announcement to contest as an independent candidate, CPI(M) organised mass rallies against Sudhakaran, while district leaders, including Minister Saji Cherian and Salam, criticised his decision, describing it as electoral ambition overriding party discipline.