VS Achuthanandan to lead CPM campaign

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Opposition Leader V S Achuthanandan gave enough hints on Thursday about campaigning for the LDF candidate M Vijayakumar in Aruvikkara but only after the central committee meeting in Delhi on June 6 and 7.

At a press conference here, Mr Achuthanandan however stopped short of giving clear answer on the issue of campaigning in Aruvikkara. “You people create stories and then ask questions. I never said anything on the issue," he said and added that he had appealed to the people of the constituency to teach a lesson to the “corrupt” UDF Government in the forthcoming by poll.

When asked whether he would attend the central committee meeting, the veteran leader who is a special invitee to the highest body of the party, said he would go to Delhi for the meeting.

Though the central committee is meeting primarily to discuss the division of responsibilities and the organisational set up at the party centre finalised at the last politburo meeting and the work related to party plenum, preparation for Aruvikkara bypoll is likely to come up while reviewing the political situation in the country especially in Left strongholds.

Sources close to Mr Achuthanandan said the veteran leader would go to Aruvikkara only if central leaders or top leaders in the state invited him for the campaign. The central leadership is likely to mollify the veteran during the CC meet.

As of now the state leadership is creating an impression that Mr Achuthanandan had requested the LDF convenor to finalise his public meetings in the constituency.

The absence of Achuthanandan was clearly felt by party workers, sympathisers and local residents who took part in the LDF convention on Wednesday.

LDF candidate Vijaykumar told reporters that Achuthanandan would launch the campaign from June 8 and he would lead from the front addressing a series of public meetings in the constituency.