V S Achuthanandan's posture: Tough choices before CPI-M leadership

THIRUVANANTHASPURAM: The open assertion of Kerala Marxist stalwart V S Achuthanandan against party state secretary Pinarayi Vijayan has pushed state CPI(M) and central leadership into a tough situation with the question how to tackle gross indiscipline from the senior most leader staring at them.

Braving disciplinary consequences, Achuthanandan had yesterday lashed out Vijayan for calling Marxist rebels like T P Chandrasekharan, who was murdered recently, as "betrayers and renegades".

In a party that prides itself in its internal discipline, democratic centralism and obedience to hierarchy, open rebellion by anybody, however mighty he or she might be, in normal circumstances would be met with disciplinary action.

But according to political observers, in this case the leadership is unlikely to rush to any drastic action as Achuthanandan continues to be a very popular leader though he has lost much of his grip on the organisational set-up.

On his part, analysts believe, the 88-year-old leader is unlikely to move to the extreme step of splitting the party as it would be pretty tough for him to remain in the centrestage by floating a new outfit with the support of the Marxist rebels who had left the party or expelled over the years.

Vijayan has reacted to the development in a cool and circumspect manner calling upon his supporters not to further vitiate the atmosphere by provocative reaction.

It is, however, clear from his message that the party would respond sharply to Achuthanandan after taking the state party and central leadership into confidence.