JOIN US CPM veteran V S Achuthanandan on Thursday came down heavily on attempts to create the impression of a serious rift between him and the party’s Politburo member Pinarayi Vijayan.
Vijayan had on Wednesday stated that a 2015 party state secretariat resolution critical of Achuthanandan’s “anti-party” activities was still in force, triggering possibilities of another round in a long-running power struggle within the party.
Vijayan clarified later that he was only responding to a specific question on the resolution and his words were taken out of context.
Even as political analysts predicted a typically fiery response from Achuthanandan, on Thursday, the 92-year-old leader went to Dharmadam in Kannur district – where Vijayan is contesting the May 16 Assembly election from – and campaigned for Vijayan.
With familiar gusto, he requested voters to ensure an impressive win for Vijayan. Soon, he posted a message on his official Facebook page, criticising a media culture which thrives on controversies and seeking “caution” from the Left leaders while making public statements.
“I read many news reports saying that Comrade Pinarayi Vijayan made some bad remarks against me. I’ve also read Vijayan’s clarification that he did not make any such statement. The controversy should have ended there but it doesn’t seem to be ending,” Achuthanandan said in the post.
He said the immediate responsibility of the CPM and the Left Front was to reinstate a people-friendly government in the state. “Our leaders, including myself and Vijayan, have taken up this responsibility with single-minded dedication. So the Left leaders should be more careful with statements that could be misinterpreted, especially when sections of the media and the UDF and BJP leaders are waiting to use these controversies to their advantage,” he said.