Pinarayi Vijayan, born in 1944 in Pinarayi village, is the current Chief Minister of Kerala and a key figure in the Communist Party of India (Marxist). He has held office since May 25, 2016, and was re-elected on May 2, 2021, leading the Left Democratic Front to victory in the Kerala Assembly elections. As he aims for an unprecedented third consecutive term in the 2026 elections, Vijayan has eliminated the party's two-term limit for legislators to ensure continuity in governance. However, he faces challenges, including dissent from former party members in strongholds like Payyannur and Taliparamba, who are now running as independents backed by the United Democratic Front (UDF). Vijayan is known for his strong opposition to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), framing the Left as the primary force against the RSS's ideological agenda in Kerala. His political journey began in student activism, and he has held various significant positions, including Minister for Electricity and Co-operation and Secretary of the Kerala State Committee of the CPI(M).