CPI-M asks Achuthanandan to behave

The CPI-M on Thursday told its seniormost leader in Kerala, former chief minister V.S. Achuthanandan, not to do anything that shows the party and its leaders in poor light.

But the CPI-M's Kerala state secretary, Kodiyeri Balakrishnan, however made it clear that the warning should not be seen as "a disciplinary act" against the 91-year-old Achuthnandan.

"The statement is meant for our party cadres to explain the entire things in the wake of Achuthanandan's recent statement where he said that the politburo got him wrong on his remarks about the party...

"We wish to clarify that the politburo was not wrong and it was Achuthanandan who is continuing to toe a different line, which he has been doing for some time now.

"We wish to remind him (Achuthanandan) that he should ensure that he toes the party line. We ask him to abide by all the decisions of the party."

Balakrishnan also listed Achuthanandan's earlier breaches of party discipline -- from almost a decade back.

"He was removed from the politburo... even after that, his statements had put the party in a tight spot.

"What has been observed is that whenever the Congress-led UDF lands in a spot of bother, Achuthanandan has time and again surfaced and creates some issues in the party.

"This helps the UDF to wriggle out of their issues and the entire focus is turned on the CPI-M," said Balakrishnan.

In June, the CPI-M's central committee will decide on appointing a politburo commission to look into the acts of Achuthanandan.

At the April party Congress that elected Sitaram Yechury as the general secretary, Achuthanandan was dropped from the central committee. He is also not a member of the Kerala state secretariat.