Kerala CPI-M factions call truce ahead of polls

Ahead of assembly elections in Kerala, the two known factions of the CPI-M in the state have decided to work together, setting aside their internal issues.

The majority faction in the Communist Party of India-Marxist is led by former state secretary Pinarayi Vijayan, while former chief minister V.S. Achuthanandan heads the other.

The Vijayan faction, which more or less controls the party, had decided to teach Achuthanandan a lesson after he walked out of the party state conference last year. He was not included in the state committee and was relegated to a mere invitee to the Central Committee.

But as Achuthanandan, 92, is considered the biggest crowd puller in Kerala politics, things appeared to have changed ahead of the elections that the Left Front led by the CPI-M is determined to win.

"We will put our best foot forward in the upcoming assembly elections," a senior CPI-M leader told IANS.

On Tuesday, Achuthanandan went public condemning a media report that he would not contest the polls if Vijayan does.

"The very fact that Achuthanandan himself has come out against baseless media reports shows that our party is united like never before," the leader said.