Senior CPI(M) leader and Politburo member Pinarayi Vijayan has been elected leader of the legislature party in Kerala and, by extension, the Chief Minister-designate.

Party General Secretary Sitaram Yechury announced this to newspersons here on Friday after the State Secretariat met earlier in the day.

Achuthanandan present

Yechury was flanked by nonagenarian VS Achuthanandan, Leader of Opposition in the outgoing Assembly and himself a former chief minister, when he made the announcement.

Achuthanandan was widely thought to be a strong contender for Chief Minister after he conveyed to the CPI(M) State leadership his willingness to be considered for the top job.

On Friday morning, the Central leadership, represented by Yechury and former general secretary Prakash Karat, held discussions with the veteran before the party Secretariat met, following which, he quietly left the scene.

But he returned in the afternoon and joined Yechury and Kodiyeri Balakrishnan, the CPI(M) State Secretary, when Vijayan was formally declared the chosen one.

Earlier, the State leadership of the party had unanimously proposed Vijayan as the leader of the legislature party. This was merely endorsed by the central leadership that included members of the Politburo.

According to Yechury, Achuthanandan was not being considered for the post due to his advanced age. He will continue to continue to guide the party just as he has done through the gruelling poll campaign.

He likened ‘indefatigable warhorse Achuthanandan’ to Cuba’s Fidel Castro, saying he would guide and mentor the party and the new government.

It was not immediately known when Vijayan would travel to the Raj Bhavan to stake a claim to form the new government.

The CPI(M) won 58 seats when election results were announced on Monday but had also managed to return five independents. The CPI, the second largest coalition partner in the Left Democratic Front, has won 19.

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