Expulsion stares VS: CPI (ML)

Kozhikode, Mar 16 (UNI) Veteran CPI (M) leader V S Achuthanandan faces expulsion from the party for questioning the dictates of a powerful lobby headed by party state secrerary Pinarayi Vijayan, the Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist) today said.

''VS will face the fate of Nripen Chakraborty, who had been expelled from the party in Tripura for daring to question a powerful lobby,'' CPI (ML) Central Secretary K N Ramachandran told reporters here today.

Referring to denial of ticket for Mr Achuthanandan in the coming assembly poll, he said ''this lobby does not want him to become the Chief Minister'' as he would be a threat to their activities, Mr Ramachandran said.

He said the time was ripe for Mr Achuthanandan to take initiative to form an alternative to UDF and LDF to effectively fight for the causes of the downtrodden sections in the state.

If he takes the plunge, Mr Ramahandran said, progressive and democratic forces in the state would wholeheartedly rally behind him against the main political combinations -- the UDF and the LDF -- and to keep the communal forces at bay.

He said Achuthanandan had to pay a heavy price for opposing projects such as smart city, express highway and Dubai port city during his tenure as opposition leader in the past five years.

UNI PCH VV MA RAI0037