Headlines
CPI-M's last and final call for Achuthanandan to attend conference
Alappuzha/Thiruvananthapuram, Feb 22
In what
appears to be the last and final call to
veteran leader V.S. Achuthanandan who has walked out of the
ongoing party conference, the CPI-M asked him to return to the ongoing
party meet for its last day Monday.
Addressing reporters at the
conference venue in Alappuzha, politburo member Kodiyeri Balakrishnan
Sunday night said that what Achuthanandan did Saturday by walking out
was wrong.
"The politburo members who are here met today (Sunday)
and was unanimous that what he did was wrong. The same feelings was
echoed when the state secretariat also met. Our party general secretary
Prakash Karat was asked by the meeting to speak to Achuthanandan and to
ask him to return and attend the meeting tomorrow (Monday)," said
Balakrishnan, who had Saturday denied the former chief minister had
walked out.
The 21st Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M)
conference that began on Friday plunged into a crisis when 91-year-old
Achuthanandan walked out of the meeting Saturday morning in Alappuzha
and returned back to his official residence as leader of opposition in
Kerala assembly in Thiruvananthapuram, which is around 130 kms from
Alappuzha.
Balakrishnan said that as a responsible party veteran,
Achuthanandan by no way can stay away from the conference and he was
assured that all what he wants to say can be said in the conference.
"Each
and every party member has to abide by the party constitution and none
is above the party. Achuthanandan should come and attend the conference
tomorrow (Monday) and can correct himself by taking part," he said.
Balakrishnan
also noted out that utmost patience has been shown by the party and
they did not want to loose anyone from our party.
"We are all optimistic," he said to a query if he expects Achuthanandan to return.
Before
the conference Monday, a new party state secretary will be elected to
replace Pinarayi Vijayan who has finished his tenure and also an 80
member state committee.
Meanwhile since his return to his
official residence, Achuthanandan was closeted with four of his closest
aides and sources in the know of things have revealed that he is
unlikely to return for the conference and either Monday or Tuesday, he
might even quit as leader of opposition.