Achuthanandan's absence from crucial party meet comes under fire

Alappuzha (Kerala), Feb 23
CPI-M veteran V.S.Achuthanandan's sudden "boycott" of the 21st party state conference was touched upon by the top leadership of the party, critically by some, when they spoke at the massive public meeting held here Monday night.

However, the 91-year-old leader, in a statement issued to the media, Monday afternoon, said since his differences with the party still persist, he is unable to attend the concluding day's event.

At Alappuzha, without naming his arch-rival, outgoing state secretary Pinarayi Vijayan came down heavily on Achuthanandan.

"The party is by all means above individuals and bowing to the felt needs of the party need not be seen as a compromise of prestige," he said, adding that a party like theirs will not succumb to threats and bargaining.

"There are so many others who have suffered so much for the party," he said, drawing huge applause from the party workers who had come for the public meeting in huge numbers.

Communist Party of India-Marxist general secretary Prakash Karat noted that everything went off very well "but, there was one small disappointment".

"Comrade Achuthanandan who should have been here with us now is not there with us. I spoke to him and requested him to return for the conference. He has been an integral part of the party. Moreover our party's strength is because of our collective efforts," he said.

In what appeared to be the last and final call to Achuthanandan who on Saturday walked out of the ongoing party conference, the CPI-M Sunday asked him to return to the ongoing party meet for its last day Monday.

In his statement, Achuthanandan said: "In the party's state secretariat resolution that was passed, I am picturised as an anti-party person. In this light, I feel it improper to attend the last day's conference and will not attend it.

"I have already intimated this to party general secretary Prakash Karat," he said, while thanking the leadership for removing some parts in the report against him and saying that the politburo will look into the rest.

At his first speech after taking over as the new secretary, Kodiyeri Balakrishnan who replaced Vijayan, said that individuals will come and go but the party will stay.

Now all eyes are on Achuthanandan, who is also the leader of the opposition, on what his next move is going to be as the budget session of the assembly is starting next month