Achuthanandan faces fresh trouble in CPI-M

Kerala Chief Minister V S Achuthanandan faced fresh trouble in the CPI-M with a former loyalist alleging that the veteran leader had planned to 'split' the party when he was denied ticket to contest assembly polls in 2004.According to party sources, C M Dinesh Mani, MLA from Ernakulam constituency had disclosed during a just concluded state committee meeting that he along with three other senior CPI-M members from Ernakulam, had held a meeting in which plans to 'split' the party and start a newspaper were discussed.

Mani had also claimed that Achuthanandan knew about the meeting, the sources added. 

However, the plan was dropped after CPIM's decision to allow Achuthanandan to contest the assembly polls, Dinesh Mani said at the meeting, the sources said.

The party has taken the allegation very seriously and has decided to bring the matter to the politburo's notice, the sources said, adding an inquiry would be held into the matter.

The state committee meeting, which concluded yesterday, after reviewing the reasons for party's debacle in the Lok Sabha polls, admitted that lack of unity in the party had cost the LDF dearly.

The meeting, which was reportedly stormy with factions loyal to party secretary Pinarayi Vijayan and Achuthanandan hurling charges at each other, also said breach of Leninist principles of the organisation had contributed to the CPIM-led LDF's poor showing.