ALAPPUZHA: The crisis in CPM looked for possible de-escalation by Sunday night, after outgoing state secretary Pinarayi Vijayan omitted a few pages harshly critical of V S Achuthanandan from the working report in his reply speech.
This has reportedly mellowed VS, who is now having second thoughts on the future course of action. It was widely perceived that he was planning to announce his resignation as the Leader of Opposition on Monday. The press conference called at 11 am on Monday would be about providing an explanation regarding his decision to keep away from the state conference.
The portions omitted from the report includes part of the P Karunakaran report which relates to a statement given by a former aide of the VS as the party’s central committee is yet to approve this.
The CPM central leadership, jolted by open defiance shown by Achuthanandan in walking out of the party state conference had earlier in the day issued an ultimatum to the veteran leader, asking him to attend the ongoing conference and sending a stern message that no sort of bargaining or attempts to weaken the organisation will be allowed.
“No individual is above the party,” CPM general secretary Prakash Karat reportedly told Achuthanandan over phone. Karat was assigned the task by a meeting of the available politburo which had an emergency sitting.
The Opposition Leader was given a long rope by the party to mend ways, while desperately trying to hide the leadership’s predicament as Achuthanandan continued with his defiance on the penultimate day of conference. Karat offered to discuss all contentious issues raised by Achuthanadan on party matters with the central leadership, but asked him to attend the conference unconditionally.
“It’s up to VS to take a decision,” politburo member Kodiyeri Balakrishnan told media persons during the Friday briefing.
However, Achuthanandan did not seem to be enthused by the overtures by the central leadership.
The politburo has also made it clear that no bargaining will be allowed by anyone in the party, Balakrishnan said. “Measures leading to the weakening of the party cannot be approved,” he said. With the entire focus of the ongoing CPM state conference stuck on the banner of revolt raised by Achuthanadan, eight PB members held a meeting to take stock of the situation. Thereafter, Karat reported the decisions to the state conference and followed it up by telephoning Achuthanandan.