CPI(M) convene Politbureau meeting on Kerala

New Delhi, Mar 21: A crucial meeting of the CPI(M) Politburoeau is being held here this morning (Mar 21, 2006) to sort out the leadership issue over the decision to tickets to senior leader V S Achutanandan in next month's assembly elections in Kerala.

Party sources said the meeting would be an exclusive 'Kerala affair'.

The Politbureau at its meeting held last week had taken the decision that the two state leaders- Mr Achutanandan, who is the leader of the opposition in Kerala Assembly, and State CPI(M) secretary Pinarayi Vijayan would not contest the assembly elections.

The meeting had also projected Mr Palloli Mohammed Kutty as the likely chief ministerial candidate.

Today's meeting assumes significance as the faction-ridden state party unit is virtually split over the denial of seat to Mr Achutanandan whose followers had demonstrated on the streets asking the party leadership in Delhi to reverse its decision.

UNI