Pinarayi re-elected Kerala CPM secy

CPM Politburo member Pinarayi Vijayan was re-elected as party state secretary for the fourth consecutive term during the 20th state conference of the party,which concluded on Friday. The ensuing party congress is planning to fix maximum three terms for secretaries.

The 68-year-old has been leading the party in Kerala since 1998,when he resigned as a minister to become party secretary,following the death of the then incumbent Chadayan Govindan. Although Vijayan became the party secretary as a nominee of V S Achuthanandan,the later years saw both leaders engaged in a standing feud,which has now almost finished off the faction led by Achuthanandan.

With the SNC Lavalin corruption case pending for trial,Vijayan’s entry into electoral politics has been in limbo. Hence,his continuation as secretary had been almost a foregone conclusion.

In the newly constituted 84-member state committee,Vijayan once again has reinforced his clout in the party.