Achuthanandan takes swipe at party leadership

With the CPI(M) in throes of inner-party commotions over the political and tactical lines, party veteran V S Achuthanandan has expressed some sharp critical views against the central and state leadership.

Sources in the Achuthanandan camp said the nonagenarian leader has circulated a note to the party's central committee members highlighting the failures of the state leadership to harness the anti-incumbency mood arising from disenchantment at the Congress-led UDF Government in power.

He found fault with the Central leadership also for remaining silent on the issues in the Kerala unit.

Asked by reporters about his stand, Achuthanandan, who is in New Delhi to attend the Central Committee meeting, refused to divulge the details but said "our party will discuss all the issues and arrive at right decisions." A founder-leader of the CPI(M) and former Chief Minister, Achuthanndan has often turned guns at the state party-set up controlled by his bete noire Pinarayi Vijayan.

Despite his popularity transcending the party, he was dropped from the politburo a few years back for openly airing critical remarks against Vijayan and other leaders and their positions on various vital issues.

The triennial meetings in all tiers of the party are now in progress and having completed the three-term cap Vijayan would be stepping down state secretary of at the state conference in January.