CPM against removing Pinarayi over Lavalin

Agencies

Thiruvananthapuram: The CPM's Polit Bureau has rejected Chief Minister V S Achuthanandan's demand for removal of Pinarayi Vijayan as state unit secretary in the wake of the CBI's move to prosecute him in the SNC Lavalin corruption case.

Political observers say that a lasting patch-up between the two top leaders is a remote possibility. This has become amply clear from Achuthanandan's statement on Sunday morning that he would continue his "battles against corruption" (Lavalin case too) as he had always done.

According to sources in the Vijayan camp, Achuthanandan's assertion that he would continue his fight against corruption was meant to console his supporters in the ranks who would be disappointed to see their hero meekly submitting for the sake of his position as Chief Minister.

Though the 85-year-old Marxist veteran has largely been constrained from talking openly, his supporters in the ranks, including those rebels who had come out recently in different parts of the state, would continue to harp on issues like Lavalin to the irritation of the leadership.

The question, being debated in political circles now, is whether Achuthanandan would share podium with Vijayan when the latter's 'Nava Kerala March' concludes in the state capital on February 25.