His next approach towards the Lavalin case will also decide his existence within the party. The party has once again made it clear that the case is politically motivated and involves little corruption. If a doubting Achuthanandan wants to fight, he has no other option but to come out of the party. Fighting from within the party will mean another round of disciplinary action and even a complete ouster. In such a scenario, he will become the Communist martyr who was expelled from the party for having raised his voice against corruption. On the other hand, if he buries the Lavalin fight within the party, Achuthanandan will have to face the allegation that he was a power-hungry leader.

As of now, Achuthanandan has not divulged his future course of action. The central committee communiqué said the party “expects” him to continue as the CM. For the party state unit, living with Achuthanandan as the Chief Minister will be obviously uneasy. The estrangement between the party and the CM has gone far too deep. The state secretary Pinarayi Vijayan faction’s discomfiture over the ‘mild’ action against Achuthanandan will get reflected in the coming days. They will not rest from the efforts to see his back from the government. The party’s firm decision to shut the Lavalin case even as it is pending in the court will have a lasting impact in Kerala. As long as Vijayan is not cleared of the charges and continues at the party helm, the Lavalin will continue to haunt the Left in all elections to come. The Politburo stand on Lavalin has forced the public to doubt about the role of the central leadership in the case.

... contd.