THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Giving more hints about the `Pinarayi-isation’ of the CPI as in the case of the RSP, the party leadership on Monday chose a surprise name as its Rajya Sabha candidate.
M.P.Achuthan, Editor of Janayugam, is the party nominee. CPI assistant secretary K.E.Ismail MP decided that Achuthan should be the candidate. State secretary Veliyam Bhargavan also extended support.
The decision was objected to by Food Minister C.Divakaran in the secretariat and AITUC leader Sukumara Pillai in the executive. When the conflict between Divakaran and Ismail reached its peak, Veliyam Bhargavan suggested voting. It was only then that the anti-Ismail group agreed to support Achuthan.
Sources in the CPI alleged that the decision was part of Ismail’s agenda to prevent the rise of a second-level leadership in the party. The neo-liberals in the RSP played a trick to snatch away the Rajya Sabha seat from T J Chandrachoodan two days ago.
When the CPM decided to give a seat to one of the coalition partners, it hoped to send Chandrachoodan to the Rajya Sabha.
The Left parties wanted Chandrachoodan in New Delhi and in Parliament as he had proven to be an eloquent speaker and good presenter of facts on many crucial issues like the Indo-US nuclear deal.
But, RSP state secretary V P Ramakrishna Pillai decided against Chandrachoodan’s candidature and didn’t demand a seat at the LDF meeting when the discussion took place.
CPM candidate P.Rajeev and CPI candidate M.P.Achuthan will file nomination papers on Tuesday.