3 Feb 2009,
NEW DELHI: Communists' rule in Kerala, it seems, is heading for trouble. Speculation is rife that chief minister V S Achhuthanandan is considering floating his own party. Both the CM and party state secretary Pinarayi Vijayan have been at loggerheads for quite some time.
If it happens, it will be worst nightmare for CPM just months before the general elections.
Pinarayi Vijayan, the party's state secretary, who is facing corruption charges in the multi-crore SNC-Lavlin deal, on Monday evening, launched his much publicized Nav Kerala Yatra. The yatra began in Kasargode on Monday evening with politburo member S Ramachandran Pillai flagging it off.
The chief minister V S Achhuthanandan on Monday completely ruled out participating in the 'Nava Kerala Yatra' by state party secretary Pinarayi Vijayan. Last minute attempts by the CPM's top brass to assuage a sulking chief minister seemed to have failed.
The CM's stand came as a jolt to CPM which was hoping he would be ready to join the yatra after party general secretary Prakash Karat had called the case a "politically-motivated'' one.
Last week, Achuthanandan had hinted at his absence from the yatra but it was only on Monday that he clearly said so. Interestingly, he had met senior party leader Sitaram Yechury at the guesthouse on Sunday night. They are believed to have discussed many issues, including the deal and the yatra.
Meanwhile, the Kerala high court issued notices to P Vijayan and two others on a petition seeking a direction that no sanction was necessary under the law to prosecute him. The petition said Pinaraya, a former electricity minister, wasn't holding any public office when he was sought to be chargesheeted.
ET
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