Removal was inevitable

CPI(M) central committee’s decision to remove Kerala chief minister VS Achuthanandan from the politburo was clear when he did not turn up at the committee’s meeting in New Delhi on Sunday. Achuthanandan had left for Kerala on Sunday morning.

After a contested politburo meeting last week had failed to find a solution to the factionalism the party’s Kerala unit, the central committee had called a meeting in New Delhi to deliberate on the issue. The committee finally decided to punish Achuthanandan and spare state secretary Pinarayi Vijayan. This certainly spelt victory for party general secretary Prakash Karat, who has been battling for Vijayan.

“Achuthanandan was not sacked from his chief minister post despite demands from cabinet members and the CPI(M)’s statement after the committee has been cognisant of his contribution to the party,” a senior CPI(M) leader present at the meeting said.