File photo: Pinarayi Vijayan and VS AchuthanandanThiruvananthapuram: CPM veteran V.S. Achuthanandan found himself poorer by another position last week, when Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan was named as the chairman of the ruling Left Democratic Front, a post held by Achuthanandan for a decade as either the Chief Minister or the Opposition Leader.
Achuthanandan came to the LDF meeting on July 19 and sat in his usual chair. He seemed ready to steer the meeting when coalition convener Vaikom Viswan announced that the Chief Minister would chair the meeting. When Achuthanandan ignored the announcement, the leaders of the allies commented that Vijayan’s seat may be viewed as the chairman’s position.
Vijayan did so. Achuthanandan, who had been chairing the meeting for 10 years in his capacity as the Chief Minister or the Opposition Leader, is not even sure of a seat in the crucial body’s meetings anymore. Thomas Isaac, E.P. Jayarajan or A.K. Balan may be picked as a CPM representative if Achuthanandan is moved out.
Achuthanandan has asked for the post of the LDF chairman after he lost out to Vijayan in the race to be the Chief Minister. The party has said an emphatic no with the announcement on July 19, depriving the senior comrade of any positions in the party or the alliance it leads.
Sources in the party said this was a natural transition as the Chief Minister was supposed to chair the meeting of the ruling coalition. Achuthanandan had been excluded from bilateral talks with allies much before. Vijayan, Viswan or party secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan used to represent the CPM in these talks even when Achuthanandan remained as the Opposition Leader.
Wednesday’s cabinet is expected to take a decision on the administrative reforms commission being formed as Achuthanandan as the chairman.
