Namrata Biji Ahuja

New Delhi

July 4: Kerala chief minister V.S. Achutanandan on Saturday was reportedly pulled up by the CPI(M) central leadership during the politburo meet, convened to sort out the raging differences between him and state party secretary Pinarayi Vijayan. West Bengal chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee did not attend the meeting.

Party sources said that Mr Achutanandan was isolated in the politburo over his demand for the removal of Mr Vijayan, an accused in the rupees 370 crore SNC Lavalin case being probed by the CBI.

Mr Vijayan reportedly lashed out against the chief minister for making public comments against him in connection with the CBI case.

Mr Vijayan said that Mr Achutanandan’s comments and larger than party image had an adverse impact on the party’s performance in the Lok Sabha polls, to which the politburo agreed, sources said.

The party, struggling to revive support of its cadres following the rout it faced in the elections, has decided to work on a "compromise formula’’ to settle the spat between the top leaders in Kerala.

The politburo reiterated its stand that the party will fight the CBI case against Mr Vijayan in court.

Mr Achuthanandan, known for his clean image, has refused to toe the party diktat of backing Mr Vijayan.

The chief minister apparently made it clear that he does not agree with the party’s view that the case is ‘’politically motivated’’. However, the chief minister has been asked not to go public with his comments . Sources said that the politburo may issue a censure to Mr Achuthanandan, deman-ding an explanation for his statements against Mr Vijayan in the run-up to the Lok Sabha polls.

The politburo will meet again on Sunday to discuss the reports with both leaders sticking to their positions. Earlier, both Mr Achuthanandan and Mr Vijayan had demanded the removal of each other.

After the Central Committee meeting in June, CPI(M) general secretary Prakash Karat had said the high decision-making body had decided that the wrangling must be settled soon. In the report adopted by the CC, the party maintained that ‘’some of the statements of comrade V.S. Achuthanandan during the campaign had an adverse effect and helped the opposition campaign." It said that the "disunity in the party and LDF had an adverse impact upon the people.

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(Source: Asian Age)