Kerala CM refutes reports of CPI-M move to pull him up

Thiruvananthapuram, Jan 17 (PTI) Kerala Chief Minister andCPI(M) veteran V S Achuthanandan today rubbished reports thathis party Politburo had decided to pull him up over thelottery issue.

"I don''t know anything about it. Do you think that myparty would take a stand against strong measures taken by myGovernment to contain lottery tycoons?" he told journalistshere.

He was reacting to queries on reports that the Politburohad yesterday decided to censure him within the party for sidestepping the state leadership in writing to the Centre for aCBI probe into irregularities in operation of Bhutanlotteries.

CPI(M) Politburo member S Ramachandran Pillai toldreporters in Delhi that no decision has been taken to initiatedisciplinary action against Achuthanandan.

"The Politburo has not taken any such decision. Wehave not discussed the issue. Reports contrary to that arefalse," Pillai said.

The chief minister asserted that no leniency would beshown towards lottery tycoons who "plundered" the common man,adding, "You all know my avowed position on issues likethis...At no cost will such plunderers be allowed to operatein the state."

Asked about party state secretary Pinaryi Vijayan''scomment that the party was not consulted before writing to theCentre for a probe, he said, "I am not going to discuss thematter with you and create a controversy."

"I have thoroughly studied all aspects of the issue beforetaking the steps on it."

Asked if he thought that the discussions on the issue inthe Politburo had been deliberately leaked out to media, heshot back saying, "How could something that does not exist beleaked?"

"Party general secretary Prakash Karat also did not sayanything during his briefing. Do you think my party willdisapprove stern actions taken by the LDF Government against alottery king," he asked.