Pinarayi Vijayan is CM, VS Achuthanandan is Castro

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Pinarayi Vijayan will be the next Chief Minister of the state and Mr V.S. Achuthanandan will remain as ‘Kerala’s Fidel Castro.’ This was announced by CPM general secretary Sitaram Yechury at a media conference attended by Mr Achuthanandan,  who was also considered as a front runner for the chief minister post, and CPM state secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan.

Earlier, the state secretariat chose Mr Pinarayi Vijayan as the leader of CPM legislature party in the presence of Mr Yechury, Mr Prakash Karat and Mr S. Ramachandran Pillai. The central leaders then summoned had Mr Achuthanandan to the secretariat meeting and conveyed the decision to him.

The veteran leader, who didn’t oppose the decision,  returned to his residence without reacting to the questions of mediapersons. The new Cabinet will be sworn in on May 25.

VS silent during press meet

Mr V.S. Achuthanandan came back to the AKG Centre in the afternoon to attend the state committee which endorsed the secretariat decision on Mr Pinarayi Vijayan. After the state committee meeting, Mr Yechury announced the decision at a jampacked media meeting.

“Considering comrade VS’s age and physical limitations and recognising his role, we have come to a decision unanimously that Pinarayi Vijayan will be proposed as leader of the LDF legislature party. On the basis of this,  Kodiyeri Balakrishnan will conduct discussions with other LDF parties and the details will be finalised,” he said.

Mr Yechury said as far as comrade VS was considered, the only parallel in the international communist movement was that of Fidel Castro. “Comrade Achuthanandan is like Fidel Castro for Kerala. He is like what Fidel is for Cuba today. He will be guiding and inspiring the party. VS will continue to play that role,” he said.

The CPM general secretary refused to answer questions regarding a Cabinet rank position or Rajya Sabha berth for Mr Achuthanandan. “I told you that he is the Fidel Castro of Kerala. All other things will be discussed later. The agenda  was the LDF government,” he added.

Mr Achuthanandan who remained seated beside Mr Yechury throughout the press conference, looked totally detached. Though Mr Pinarayi Vijayan was present at the AKG Centre, he didn’t attend the press conference. “Don’t worry, he will come before you. You will not miss him for the next five years,” Mr Yechury told mediapersons who were keen for a photo op of  Mr Achuthanandan, Mr Pinarayi and central leaders.

The party general secretary walked along with Mr Achuthanandan up to the car and saw him off. After the state committee meeting, Mr Yechury greeted Mr Pinarayi and presented him a bouquet. Many leaders, who had come for the leadership meetings, met Mr Pinarayi and congratulated him. People from different walks of life called on Mr Pinarayi. The mood at the AKG Centre was jubilant as workers distributed  sweets  to the visitors to celebrate the landslide victory of the LDF.