The CPI(M) Politburo has decided that VS Achuthanandan, the 92-year-old Leader of Opposition in the Kerala Assembly, should contest the forthcoming State elections. This brings to an end the uncertainty surrounding the former Chief Minister’s chances of contesting the polls.
The ‘available Politburo’ of the party which met in Delhi on Thursday, unanimously decided that both Achuthanandan and his arch-rival, former State Secretary Pinarayi Vijayan, should contest the election, so as to send across an image of unity within the party.
The campaign would, however, not project anyone as the chief ministerial candidate.
The ‘recommendation’ of the PB would be conveyed to the party’s State Secretariat, which meets on Friday. CPI(M) General Secretary Sitaram Yechury and his predecessor Prakash Karat will be attending the meeting. If okayed by the State unit, which is considered a formality, Achuthanandan will likely contest from his sitting Malampuzha seat in Palakkad district.
Pinarayi Vijayan, who had been the State secretary for 16 years until last year, will contest from Dharmadam in Kannur district. He was not able to contest the 2006 and 2011 elections as he was the State Secretary then and since a corruption probe was on against him.
In both 2006 and 2011, the State party unit, dominated by the Pinarayi Vijayan faction, had initially denied a party ticket to Achuthanandan. It had to relent later because of pressure from the national leadership as well as the local media.