Kerala CM 'accepts' party's decision on suspension

A day after his suspension from the CPI(M) Politburo, Kerala Chief Minister VS Achuthanandan today said he fully "accepted" the party's decision.

Terming the suspension as "akin to children being punished by their parents when they commit mistakes", the chief minister said it was just part of the correction process.

He said it was natural to commit occasional mistakes while serving the people and the country and that it was for the party to detect mistakes and lead the partymen in the right direction.

The CPI(M) Politburo, which met in New Delhi on Saturday, had suspended Achuthanandan and party state secretary Pinarayi Vijayan from the membership of the body for having violated party norms.

The long-drawn factionalism in the state CPI(M) turned bitter last week when Achuthanandan and Vijayan engaged in a verbal duel after party and LDF deliberations were 'leaked' to the media. Both the party veterans made remarks and openly criticised each other.

The party central body's punitive step comes as a clear directive that the state party leadership should not air their differences publicly.

Meanwhile, political analysts believe that Achuthanandan's suspension is unlikely to resolve the crisis in the state unit. It will need the collective efforts of the party to see to it that the infighting stops, they say.

Achuthanandan, whose government recently completed one year in office, had a lot to cheer about just before the suspension order came out. The signing of the Smart City deal and the reclamation of encroached land in Munnar and various other added a feather to the chief minister's cap.

The public spat, which gave party detractors much to celebrate, has embarassed him and his 'rival' Pinarayi Vijayan, which will take time and good effort to pass.

The two leaders will now have to do some damage control to win back support from within the party. Sparring under media limelight and in front of the general public will have to stop.