V S Achuthanandan to campaign for rival Pinarayi Vijayan in a friendship show

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: CPM veteran V S Achuthanandan will campaign for his party rival, politburo member Pinarayi Vijayan. Both stalwarts are contesting these assembly elections. VS's gesture, which observers call historic, will further boost CPM in its comeback bid. On April 21, the 92-year-old CPM veteran will address a public meeting at Pinarayi's constituency, Dharmadom, in Kannur district.

These Assembly elections, both are leading the LDF challenge. And both are said to be eyeing the chief minister's chair. Initially, there was speculation over VS's candidature. The Kerala unit wanted to project Pinarayi, who has led the CPM in the state for more than a decade, as the sole leader of the front. But after the politburo decided to field both, the state unit backed out.

The ice breaker came when on Wednesday M V Jayarajan, CPM Kannur district secretary, telephoned VS and sought time for a meeting at Dharmadom. The veteran readily consented. On April 21, he will also campaign in Kannur where Congress (S) leader Ramachandran Kadannappally is contesting and also in Koothuparambu.

The coming together of these two leaders on the same stage will give a strong message to the cadres. "Efforts are on to make Pinarayi campaign in Malambuzha, VS's seat," a source said.

In fact, VS was present at the inaugural and concluding rallies of Pinarayi's Nava Kerala Yatra marking the launch of CPM's run up to the assembly polls.

VS's high-voltage campaign tour starts from Malampuzha on Friday. He travels to Kasargod from his constituency on April 19 and campaigns there on April 20.

"Every day, he's scheduled to address two to three meetings. The summer heat is a problem and organising more rallies is not practical," said a party source. Apart from addressing fewer meetings, most of them after 5 pm, the 92-year-old leader hasn't made any major change in his schedule.

The frugal vegetarian diet he eats will be amended with additional supplies of tender coconut water and butter milk, said a source. "There won't be any change to his morning and evening walk and yoga timings, " he said.