2015 resolution against VS still stands: Vijayan

A CPM resolution taken last year against V S Achuthanandan still stands, politburo member Pinarayi Vijayan said Wednesday. Vijayan was answering a question during an interaction with journalists.

The resolution against Achuthanandan, Leader of the Opposition in Kerala, was taken in early 2015. The CPM state secretariat had resolved that Achuthanandan had stooped to the level of an anti-party activist. This was after Achuthanandan had sent a note to the central leadership questioning the state unit’s stand on a number of contentious issues, including the murder of rebel leader T P Chandrasekharan. The CPM rejected Achuthanandan’s stand on the ground that these issues had already been discussed and the party had taken a stand.

On Wednesday, Vijayan said a party resolution is not meant to be abandoned at any time. At the same time, he said Achuthanandan’s candidature should not be linked to the resolution. Achuthanandan is contesting the elections because the CPM has taken the decision, not Achuthanandan, Vijayan said.

Although Vijayan and Achuthanandan have been at loggerheads for years, they had appeared to have ceasedattackingeachotherforthepast several months. Vijayan’s comment now comes a day before Achuthanandan is due to address an election meeting in Dharmadam, where Vijayan is the CPM candidate.

On another subject, Vijayan said the CPM’S liquor policy would be decided only after the party comes to power. The party is against a ban on liquor, he said. Asked about party general secretary Sitaram Yechury’s comment that the party would not open liquor bars that have been closed, Vijayan said such opinions would be discussed after the elections.