VS Achuthanandan complains to Sitaram Yechury on party attitude

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Opposition leader V S Achuthanandan on Saturday complained to party general secretary Sitaram Yechury about the negative attitude of the state leadership.

Mr Achuthanandan who is attending the crucial central committee meeting in Delhi, met Mr Yechury and reportedly told him that despite leadership change the attitude and style of functioning of the state unit had not changed.

The meeting took place in the backdrop of a series of developments that had taken place in the party since the state conference in February.

The state secretariat had last month passed a resolution against Mr Achuthanandan accusing him of adopting an anti-party stand beneficial for the opponents.

The resolution was made public by state secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan much to the annoyance of the veteran leader.

Mr Achuthanandan told Mr Yechury that though the elections to the state secretariat were held in his presence, the leadership while reporting the matter in lower committees, was terming the development as “factionalism”.

This was sending wrong signals in the party rank and file and there was a deliberate attempt to scuttle internal democracy by branding leaders airing their opinions as “anti party” and "people promoting factionalism."

He said though the leadership had changed in the last conference, the attitude of leaders and their style of functioning continue to remain the same.

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, it is likely to take up Mr Achuthanandan’s public statements against leadership.

However, the central leadership is unlikely to take action against the veteran especially in view of the crucial Aruvikkara by-poll.

The Opposition leader, who was excluded from the opening LDF convention, is expected to launch campaign in the constituency on  Monday.