Achuthanandan, Pinarayi Vijayan suspended

NEW DELHI: The Polit Bureau of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) on Saturday decided to suspend V.S. Achuthanandan and Pinarayi Vijayan from the membership of that powerful body. It concluded that open criticism against each other aired by the two veteran leaders from Kerala had "violated the norms of the party."

However, both of them will continue to "discharge all their other party responsibilities." This means Mr. Achuthanandan, 84, will continue to be the Chief Minister and Mr. Vijayan, 63, the State Secretary of the party.


TACKLING FACTIONALISM: CPI (M) general secretary Prakash Karat explains, at a press conference in New Delhi, the Polit Bureau's action against V. S. Achuthanandan and Pinarayi Vijayan for airing their differences publicly.

Significantly, the Polit Bureau also appreciated the work done by the Achuthanandan-led Left Democratic Front Government that completed one year in office on May 18.


Making the announcement at the conclusion of the two-day Polit Bureau (PB) meeting, party general secretary Prakash Karat said the decision to suspend the two PB members would be placed before the Central Committee, scheduled to meet in Delhi from June 24 to 26. It is understood that the Central Committee, which is the party's highest decision-making body, would determine the time period for which the two leaders would remain suspended from the PB.

In a formal resolution, the PB said it discussed the conduct of Mr. Achuthanandan and Mr. Vijayan in making certain remarks to the media. These remarks and open criticism by the two senior leaders violated the norms of the party and the clear directive of the Polit Bureau and the Central Committee that the State party leadership should not air their differences publicly.


The resolution said: "The Polit Bureau concluded that such behaviour is unacceptable from members of the Polit Bureau and action should be taken. The Polit Bureau decided to suspend V.S. Achuthanandan and Pinarayi Vijayan from the Polit Bureau and place the matter before the Central Committee for its consideration. The two comrades will continue to discharge all their other party responsibilities. All other matters pertaining to the Kerala unit of the party will be discussed by the Polit Bureau with the Kerala State Committee."