Gogoi likely CM, Left's Kerala choice today

CPI(M) Politburo will meet tomorrow to decide the next chief minister of Kerala although a formal announcement will be made only after the party's state committee endorses the choice on May 15.

Politburo member VS Achuthanandan, who met CPI(M) General Secretary Prakash Karat, is the front runner, although his rivals in the state unit led by State Secretary Pinarayi Vijayan could make a last-ditch attempt to spoil the show for the octogenarian leader.

The party could work out a compromise formula in which he became the chief minister but gave important portfolios to Vijayan loyalists like Thomas Isaac and MA Baby, said sources.

In Assam, the Congress, which has emerged as the single largest party with 53 seats in the 126-member House, is set to form the next government with ally BPPF(H).

The Bodoland People's Progressive Front (Hagrama), which has bagged 12 seats and had a pre-poll understanding with the Congress, is playing the king-maker.

Though down 18 from its 2001 tally of 71, the Congress was discussing the modalities for a coalition government with the BPPF(H) to fulfill the poll promises of both the parties, Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi said today.

With chief ministerial contender and APCC President Bhubeswar Kalita and other potential challengers losing the elections, the path for Gogoi to head the next government has become clear.

In Tamil Nadu, M Karunanidhi is set to become the chief minister with the DMK today electing him the leader of the legislature party after the Congress pledged unconditional" support to the party in return for its support in Pondicherry.

In West Bengal, Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee has been elected the Left Front legislature party leader. The Front, which met for the first time after it stormed back to power for the 7th consecutive term, decided that the next meeting on May 17 will discuss formation of the new ministry.