In a repeat of 2006, the CPI(M) central leadership on Friday forced its Kerala unit to reverse its decision?ironically taken in the presence of general secretary Prakash Karat himself on Wednesday?to deny VS Achuthanandan a ticket to contest the April 13 Assembly polls. The move is a big set back to the chief minister?s rival Pinarayi Vijayan which could have ramifications in the elections.
The decision of the state unit to deny ticket to VS came up for discussion at a meeting of seven available politburo members here. Sources said the overwhelming view of the members was that the veteran should be fielded. The meeting was convened after several politburo members expressed their strong objection to the state unit?s decision. Sources said all the Politburo members were contacted over phone and their views sought.
Given the fact that the majority view in the Politburo was in favour of fielding VS, the suggestion was then conveyed to the Kerala leadership. A meeting of the state secretariat was in session when the Politburo?s view was conveyed to the state leaders. Within an hour, Vijayan announced the list of candidates in Thiruvananthapuram. Vijayan read out the names of CPI(M) candidates and among them was his bete noire Achuthanandan, who would be fielded from Malampuzha from where he had won last time. When asked about the sudden turn around, Vijayan quipped ?Achuthanandan is an undisputed leader.?
Although the denial of ticket to VS did not trigger outrage and street protests of the scale witnessed five years ago, it had led to sporadic demonstrations and all the more importantly created unease among a section of the Politburo members who had begun a rearguard action on Thursday to get the decision reversed.
The Politburo had earlier this month resolved not to take a call on the candidature of VS and leave the decision to the state unit. Sources said there was an informal understanding that while it should not impose its view, the central representatives ?Karat and SR Pillai?should intervene in the event of a difference of opinion and suggest that VS should contest.
Party leaders said several members of the state committee and secretariat had suggested that VS should be fielded but their views were ignored. In the Friday?s as well as Thursday?s meeting of the available Politburo, some of the members raised this point and vociferously argued that fielding VS was in the party?s interests. Among those who favoured Achuthanandan?s candidature were Sitaram Yechury, and Brinda Karat.