Achuthanandan calls on Chandy at hospital

CPI(M) stalwart and opposition leader in the Kerala Assembly V S Achuthanandan today called on Chief Minister Oommen Chandy at the Medical College hospital here, where he is admitted after being hurt in stone-pelting by LDF workers at Kannur.

Achuthanandan, however, declined to make any statement to the reporters, who have thronged the hospital.

Though a trenchant critic of Chandy, Achuthanandan had condemned the attack on him, stating the LDF did not call for a violent mode of protest over the solar panel scam.

Apart from the nonagenarian leader, there have been a steady stream of visitors since early morning to the hospital, where Chandy was admitted for detailed check up and observation.

On advice from the doctors, all his official programmes for the day have been cancelled.

Though Chandy was keen to keep up his pre-scheduled "mass contact programme" at the neighbouring Kollam district tomorrow, it has been postponed for later this week as insisted by doctors.

The second phase of the district-wise mass contact programme, started from the state capital last week, has been drawing huge turn out of people, mostly under privileged, seeking redressal to their various problems ranging from welfare pensions to medical aid.