Kerala CPM split over VS action

Earlier,while reporting the central committees decision to remove Achuthanandan from the Politburo,party general secretary Prakash Karat had asked the state unit to accommodate the Chief Minister in the interest of a smooth coordination between the state government and the party. He had also told VS to comply with the partys directions. A special meeting of the state secretariat and the committee would be held next month to ensure better coordination between the party and the government.

Though the state unit accepted the disciplinary action against Achuthanandan,some of his loyalists felt that it was unilateral. Former RS member and VS confidant K Chandran Pillai said a situation had emerged in which party discipline was binding only on VS. The disciplinary action against the CM,who has been fighting against corruption,has only helped dent the image of the party. The dominating group in the party also should be blamed for factionalism. The SNC-Lavalin issue still persists in the minds of the people, he said.

J Mercykuttiyamma,another VS loyalist also said that he alone should not be blamed for the factionalism in the party. However,leaders from Kannur,who are close to Vijayan,said the should have been reined in much earlier.