CPM bosses in Delhi to talk Pinarayi Vijayan, VS Achuthanandan contests

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: While a majority in the CPM central leadership in favour of both Opposition Leader V.S. Achuthanandan and politburo member Pinarayi Vijayan contesting the forthcoming Assembly elections, the national leadership is eliciting the response of the state leadership to take a call on the issue.

Pinarayi and CPM state secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan have been summoned to Delhi where they will be holding discussions with the party centre on Saturday. Since the forthcoming Assembly elections in Kerala and West Bengal are crucial for the CPM, the party central leadership wants unity among leaders at any cost to counter and defeat the saffron threat.

The CPM is desperately trying to ensure victory in the two states for remaining politically significant not only in the respective regions but also nationally. It is in this backdrop that the central leadership wants 94-year old Achuthanandan to play a lead role in the campaign.

The veteran is the most popular face of the party in the stage and a huge crowd puller, a crucial factor in elections. Pinarayi who led the Kerala Yatra successfully, is the organisational strongman.

The central leadership is of the view that Achuthanandan, Pinarayi and Kodiyeri should lead from the front as a joint team. Such a collective leadership would send right signals to the party cadre, galvanising them ahead of the elections.

A section of leaders are confident that individual leaders would not come in the way of forming unity at the top. With the BJP Sangh Parivar making a strong bid to expand their base in the state especially with the help of organisations like BDJS comprising leaders of SNDP, KPMS,Brahamana Sabha and various other Hindu organisations, the CPM leadership believes that the stakes are high. All these issues would come for detailed discussion at the party centre meeting taking place on Saturday.