Achuthanandan continues to breach discipline: CPI-M

A day ahead of the CPI-M's crucial state conference to elect a new secretary of Kerala unit, outgoing secretary Pinarayi Vijayan Thursday slammed his arch-rival V.S. Achutanandan and said the latter continues to breach party discipline.

In what could be his last press meet ahead of laying down office after taking over as party state secretary way back in 1998, Vijayan told reporters Thursday that a resolution to this effect, pointing out that Achuthanandan continues to breach party discipline, was cleared (ahead of the press meet) and was attended by Achuthanandan too at the state secretariat meeting.

"Yes, this resolution was passed in the presence of Achuthanandan too. He was not there when the meeting began, but was present before it was passed unanimously," said Vijayan.

He also thanked the media for the support extended to him since he took over as the secretary.

Incidentally, this resolution is going to come before the party state conference that begins here Friday and indications are that Achuthanandan, who was on quite a few occasions was earlier pardoned, is unlikely to be spared this time.

Vijayan told reporters that ahead of the conference, the party held district conventions and everything went off very well, even when there were issues of factionalism at very few places.

"Factionalism, not long ago was an irritant, but now it is not, but what was discussed at today's state secretariat meeting was a report published in Malayala Manorama on the 18th of this month," said Vijayan.

"This was a letter that Achuthanandan had written to the party early this month. This was discussed by our state committee meeting of the party on Feb 9th and 10th and all the allegations that was raised by him was earlier discussed and dismissed as baseless," added Vijayan.

"The letter that has appeared in Manorama on 18th again clearly shows he continues to breach party discipline and has stooped very low," he said.

"In 2009, Achuthanandan was ousted from the politburo. When the murder of T.P. Chandrasekheran took place, Achuthanandan again took a totally different posture and had caused tough times for the party and here too his letter to the party was leaked. For this he was publicly censured in 2012," said Vijayan.

Now all eyes are on the coming few days and when a new secretary is going to be elected besides a new state committee and secretariat.

It also remains to be seen if Achuthanandan will be booted out from the post of leader of opposition.

Since Achuthanandan is a central committee member, the future of the 91-year-old former chief minister will be decided by the central committee and the politburo.

Reacting to the new development, Achuthanandan said that he dismisses all what Vijayan has said.

"I heard that he has said some things about me and the rules in the party are quite clear that no action can be taken on the eve of a party state conference," Achutanandan said.

"I had written to the party politburo about certain things and I have yet to hear from them. I am waiting to hear from them and then I will decide," he said.