Marxist leader and former Kerala chief minister V. S. Achuthanandan said on Thursday that he was ready to contest the coming assembly election in the state.
"Yes, I will contest if the party wants me to contest, " the 92 - year - old Communist Party of India - Marxist veteran told reporters here.
A six - time legislator, Achuthanandan - - now the leader of the opposition in the house - - won his first assembly election in 1967.
He faced a shock defeat in 1996, attributed to infighting in his party.
A hugely popular leader, he was the chief minister in 2006 - 11 and has been the opposition leader since 2011.
If the Left wins the upcoming assembly polls, Achuthanandan may be pitted against Pinarayi Vijayan, another Marxist leader who is also a contender for the chief minister's post.