A meeting of the CPI (M) Politbureau is likely to be held on Sunday to decide on the position to be given to veteran leader VS Achuthanandan in the Kerala cabinet. With this decision, the party hopes to set to rest speculations on VS’s position that arose after the swearing-in of Pinarayi Vijayan as Chief Minister of Kerala.
Although there have been reports that the 92-year-old party leader will be named as “advisor” to the Kerala government, there has been no confirmation from the party thus far. The Times of India reports that many state leaders are against the proposal as they feel such an appointment could be a hindrance to the conduct of the government.
VS has reportedly demanded the post of chairman of the LDF, along with the position of advisor. Earlier, during the swearing-in of the Kerala cabinet, VS had apparently handed over a note to CPI (M) General Secretary Sitaram Yechury, which reportedly demanded these positions.
According to ToI, Pinarayi, while speaking to reporters in New Delhi on Saturday night, said that expert advisers were required for the better performance of the government, thus hinting at his willingness to accommodate VS.
The situation is reportedly being compared by party insiders to one that arose in Tripura in 1993. The Tripura party state secretary Dasarath Debb was appointed as Chief Minister while former Chief Minister Nripen Chakraborty was made the vice-chairman of the Tripura state planning board. The arrangement saw two years of constant battle between the two leaders, at the end of which Chakraborty left the party.
“Such a situation should not arise in Kerala while accommodating VS. That will be the prime concern of the party and let's wait and see how the central leadership solve this puzzle,” a senior CPI (M) leader told ToI.