VS Govt is gasping for breath

By O J George

The V S Achuthanandan Government in Kerala is gasping for breath. CPM in the state, instead of supporting its government, is creating hurdles more arduous than the opposition front.

The old war-horse he is, Achuthanandan does not mince words to castigate his opponents within the party.

The state party leaders were hoping that Achuthanandan govt could be given a quiet burial after the Lok Sabha elections, which the LDF is sure to trail the UDF.

But VS would not fall that flat easily, for he has been apprising the politburo about the wrong-doings going on in the party in Kerala. However, the politburo this time has not even cared to provide a leeway to VS, who the PB knows cannot approve of the ways of CPM Kerala secretary Pinarayi Vijayan.

A piquant situation has arisen in Kerala cabinet. The Chief Minister says he will not speak or do anything against the tenets of the Constitution. The CBI has prepared a charge-sheet against CPM state secretary Pinarayi Vijayan in the Lavalin issue. Pinarayi Vijayan, when he was the Power Minister earlier, had allegedly caused a loss of over Rs 380 crore to the exchequer.

The previous UDF govt had entered into a memorandum of understanding with Lavalin for maintenance of Pallivasal, Chengulam and Panniar power stations. But it was during the tenure of Pinarayi that Lavalin was given the work order without inviting tenders. Lavalin was appointed only as the consultancy agency during the UDF, it says. Work was given during LDF govt tenure.


CPM cannot give up Pinarayi. V S cannot tolerate the alleged corruption. There does not seem to be a via media. Any patch-up will only tarnish the image of both groups. It seems VS is on his way out, either on his own volition or on the machinations of his detractors in the party.