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This story is from May 13, 2006
The fight within: 'Malabar lobby' wants share of pie
Besides Achuthanandan, Pillai and Vijayan are the two other contenders for the coveted post.
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: A front-runner to head the Left Democratic Front (LDF) government, V S Achuthanandan on Friday left for Delhi to attend the meeting. Two other politburo members from Kerala ��� Pinarayi Vijayan and S Ramachandran Pillai ���have also gone to Delhi.
Sources said notwithstanding the prerogative of the CM (read Achuthanandan) picking his colleagues, the state CPM leadereship currently controlled by the anti-Achuthanandan group also known as "Malabar lobby," may thrust a list of candidates for their induction into the Cabinet with their portfolios so as to keep "Stalinist" Achuthanandan under check.
After politburo decides on a name, the state committee will be convened to give its stamp of approval. Besides Achuthanandan, Pillai and Vijayan are the two other contenders for the coveted post. However, the pre-poll "pro-VS" mania has restrained the CPM leadership from taking any hasty decision.
Earlier, the politburo was forced to reverse its decision not to allow Achuthanandan to contest following state-wide protests and rallies by VS supporters. General secretary Prakash Karat had a difficult time explaining why the decision was reversed in a matter of 10 days.
The sources said, the Cabinet will have an overwhelming presence of staunch supporters of Vijayan. The Home portfolio, which has been with successive chief ministers for a quarter century, may be bifurcated.
The bone of contention is the industry portfolio as Achuthanandan is opposed to Congress' flagship "Smart City IT Project". Though CPM later fell in line, Vijayan group is learnt to be soft on the project. Therefore, the industry portfolio will see a tug of war between the VS and Vijayan groups.
Another problem that stares the party in the face is the size of the Cabinet. The LDF has been holding to principle that a small state like Kerala can ill-afford the luxury of a jumbo Cabinet. The Congress-led UDF had 20 ministers but the previous LDF government led by E K Nayanar had just 14.
Sources said notwithstanding the prerogative of the CM (read Achuthanandan) picking his colleagues, the state CPM leadereship currently controlled by the anti-Achuthanandan group also known as "Malabar lobby," may thrust a list of candidates for their induction into the Cabinet with their portfolios so as to keep "Stalinist" Achuthanandan under check.
After politburo decides on a name, the state committee will be convened to give its stamp of approval. Besides Achuthanandan, Pillai and Vijayan are the two other contenders for the coveted post. However, the pre-poll "pro-VS" mania has restrained the CPM leadership from taking any hasty decision.
Earlier, the politburo was forced to reverse its decision not to allow Achuthanandan to contest following state-wide protests and rallies by VS supporters. General secretary Prakash Karat had a difficult time explaining why the decision was reversed in a matter of 10 days.
Since then Achuthanandan has earned massive goodwill as a man who stands for hardline Marxist values. The West Bengal model is not held in respect by many party cadres here.
The sources said, the Cabinet will have an overwhelming presence of staunch supporters of Vijayan. The Home portfolio, which has been with successive chief ministers for a quarter century, may be bifurcated.
The bone of contention is the industry portfolio as Achuthanandan is opposed to Congress' flagship "Smart City IT Project". Though CPM later fell in line, Vijayan group is learnt to be soft on the project. Therefore, the industry portfolio will see a tug of war between the VS and Vijayan groups.
Another problem that stares the party in the face is the size of the Cabinet. The LDF has been holding to principle that a small state like Kerala can ill-afford the luxury of a jumbo Cabinet. The Congress-led UDF had 20 ministers but the previous LDF government led by E K Nayanar had just 14.
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