Poll review: Karat sheaths blows,but VS remains the punching bag

The election review of the CPI(M) state committee,which began here on Tuesday,is turning out to be the beginning of a full-blown battle....

The election review of the CPI(M) state committee,which began here on Tuesday,is turning out to be the beginning of a full-blown battle against Chief Minister and Politburo member V S Achuthanandan. Taking a cue from the state secretariat,which had found Achuthanandan to be the main culprit behind the election fiasco of the party,some of the leaders in the state committee sought action against the veteran.

Earlier in the day,state secretary Pinarayi Vijayan presented the review report attested by the party secretariat. Vijayan had fixed his rivals anti-party stand on the SNC-Lavalin case and the PDP alliance as the main reasons that proved fatal for the party in the electoral battle. But,it is reliably learnt,general secretary Prakash Karat wanted disharmony within the LDF along with the PDP alliance and Lavalin case to be incorporated.

Though leaders of the official faction didnt want the above elements included in the report,sources said Karats insistence for an independent,self-introspection finally paved the way for some respite for Achuthanandan in the report.

Sources said it was Karats call for open observations that made Home Minister and Politburo member Kodiyeri Balakrishnan find fault with the selection of candidates for Kannur and Ernakulam constituencies. But for Karats intervention,the poll review would have ended up as Achuthanandan bashing.

However,the suggestion for issue-based criticism did not bring in any change in the approach of the party state committee on Tuesday. The secretaries of the 14 district committees,who presented the analysis of their respective political turfs,found Achuthanadans anti-party stand on Lavalin issue,rampant factionalism,a jinxed alliance with PDP and the anti-CPI(M) stand of the CPI and JD(S) as the major reasons behind the poll debacle. Some of the leaders said Achuthanandans anti-party comments on the PDP alliance and Lavalin case during the electioneering had helped spoil the chances of the party. His followers were also accused of joining hands with the Congress-led Opposition for wrecking the CPI(M)-PDP electoral understanding.

According to sources,district secretaries of Kannur,Kottayam,Thrissur and Kozhikode sought action against Achuthanandan,with two of them going to the extent of seeking his resignation. They also sought a probe into the defeat of the CPI(M) candidates in the party citadels of Kannur,Vatakara,Kozhikode and Kollam.

The committee would meet on Wednesday and Thursday to discuss the reports. It has to be seen whether the beleaguered Achuthanandan would get support from the members during the deliberations. Equations in the state unit of the party,heavily leaned towards Vijayan,are unlikely to change with Karats intervention on Monday. Though there are differences of opinion within the Vijayan camp over the selection of candidates,those are unlikely to gain strength in the discussions in a manner to bring cheer for Achuthanandan.