Kerala polls: No ticket for Achuthanandan

The secretariat decision would be presented to the state committee meeting in the evening after which a formal announcement is expected.

The question over fielding Achuthanandan — a four-time MLA — again to lead ruling CPI-M Left Democratic Front (LDF) has been dominating the political discourse in the state for the last few weeks.

The CPI-M’s Central leadership had referred the matter back to the state unit for a decision on fielding the veteran leader.

CPI(M) state secretary Pinarayi Vijayan is also not expected to enter the fray,sources said.

In the emerging scenario,the party is likely to be led by Home Minister Kodiyeri Balakrishnan,also a Politburo member.

In 2006 also,the rival faction led by Vijayan had sought to deny a ticket to Achuthanandan. However,the central leadership then prevailed on the state unit to reverse that decision.

Achuthanandan won from Malampuzha segment in Palakkad district with a comfortable majority.

A popular face of CPI(M) in Kerala,Achuthanandan had a few days back made it clear he would contest again if the party so decided.

Despite his mass appeal,Achuthanandan has lost his grip over the party’s hierarchy as Vijayan has gained an upper hand in the organisational structure in the last few years. At the height of his battle with Vijayan,Achuthanandan was removed from the Politburo.