Kerala Chief Minister- designate Pinarayi Vijayan today met CPI(M)'s senior most leader 92-year-old V S Achuthanandan and spent some time with him.
Vijayan, accompanied by party state secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan, met Achuthanandan, the Leader of the Opposition in the outgoing Kerala Assembly, at his official residence at Cantonment House and informed him that the LDF ministry would be sworn in on May 25 and invited him for the same.
Achuthanandan is understood to have told him that immediate efforts should be made to curtail the price rise of essential commodities and the new government should initiate steps for safety of women in the wake of the brutal murder of a Dalit law student in Perumbavoor.
The meeting, which came ahead of the proposed press meeting Achuthanandan had called at 11 AM, assumes importance amid reports that the nonagenarian, LDF's main campaigner in the May 16 assembly polls, was reportedly unhappy at not being anointed as Chief Minister.
In a bid to scuttle such reports, CPI(M) General Secretary Sitaram Yechury has yesterday met the press flanked by Achutanandan and Balakrishnan.
The party, in an attempt to placate Achutanandan, had yesterday compared him with Fidel Castro and had said he will continue to guide and inspire the front.
Political commentator N M Pearson said Achuthanandan is Pinarayi Vijayan's mentor and there is need to see the visit as the chief minister-designate seeking blessings from his mentor.
Vijayan also called on outgoing Chief Minister Oommen Chandy.
