Thaindian News

Thiruvananthapuam, Feb 24 (IANS) Kerala Chief Minister and Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) politburo member V.S.Achuthanadan Tuesday said he has made his stand clear on his participation in the state wide march of his party arch-rival and state secretary Pinarayi Vijayan.
“Haven’t I made my stand very clear a few times? Why do you want to keep asking the same question over and over again?” said Achuthanandan to repeated questions whether he would be on the dais at the march’s concluding programme here Wednesday evening.

The chief minister was talking to reporters after the weekly cabinet meeting.

When reporters asked if they could give the news that Achuthanandan would not take part in the rally, he walked away.

Achuthanandan, early this month after the march began, had on more than one occasion said he would not take part in the march.

Vijayan, who began his march on Feb 2, was asked the same question practically every day when he met reporters. Asked the same question Tuesday, he shot back: “There is still time left and we will all know tomorrow if he will take part or not.”

Vijayan has been accused by the Central Bureau of Investigation of irregularities in awarding a contract to Canadian firm SNC Lavalin when he was the state’s power minister in 1997.

Achuthanandan and Vijayan are known rivals and head the two factions of the party. The chief minister has for long maintained silence over Vijayan’s alleged involvement in the multi-million rupee scam, while most CPI-M leaders had openly defended the state party secretary.

CPI-M general secretary Prakash Karat will inaugurate the public meeting to be held here Tuesday at the end of Vijayan’s march.