5 Jul 2009,
NEW DELHI: Caught between the desire to enforce discipline in the Kerala unit and aware of immediate consequences in case action is taken against
only one leader, the CPM politburo is likely to take the same disciplinary action against state secretary Pinarayi Vijayan as it takes against chief minister VS Achutanandan.
The two-day meeting of the politburo, which began on Saturday, did not take any decision. But both Vijayan and Achutanandan traded charges against each other. West Bengal chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee did not attend the meeting as, after the poll debacle, he has started the system of visiting one district headquarter every week.
A dominant view in the politburo was for an even-handed approach. The decision on action is likely to be taken on Sunday, a source said. Already, both sides have sent written communication to the politburo complaining against each other's faction.
Sources pointed out that the even-handed action against the two in the past, like suspension from politburo in 2007, had only resulted in a temporary ceasefire. They said till both are shown the door and a new leadership is put in place, the Kerala problem would continue in one form or the other.
On Saturday also, Achutanandan reiterated his demand for the removal of Vijayan as state secretary on the ground that his involvement in the SNC-Lavlin case had created a perception that the party is shielding the corrupt. He is also believed to have said that he is fighting against corruption and not necessarily against Vijayan. The CM is also not convinced with the legal interpretation of the case which projects that Vijayan might have been wrongly implicated. The CM is more bothered about the public perception.
Even a large section of PB thinks whatever be the truth, the SNC-Lavlin case has created a wrong perception about the party. And a large section of Left-inclined people in the state did not vote for the party.
The PB is also aware of the popularity of the chief minister in the state and the repercussions of removing him from the top post.
On its part, the Vijayan faction, that has the backing of a large number of state ministers and party leaders, charges Achutanandan with speaking out against the party line and especially against the state secretary. Vijayan also alleges that instead of carrying out the administrative job, the CM has been too busy politicking against Vijayan. This group also ascribes the party's dismal performance in the recent Lok Sabha polls to Achutanandan's defiance.
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