Achuthanandan leaves his fate to 'party and people'

Under attack from CPI-M party members in his state, Kerala Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan said Friday he had left the issue of his continuing in the post to "the party and the people".

Arriving in the national capital ahead of Saturday's crucial Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) politburo meeting to discuss the problems dogging the Kerala unit, the chief minister did not say what approach he would adopt in the meeting.

The central leadership of the party has been in a piquant situation following the open rivalry between Achuthanandan and Pinarayi Vijayan, the state secretary of the party.

While Achuthanandan is seeking the removal of Vijayan - an accused in the multi-crore SNC-Lavlin scam - as party state secretary, Vijayan wants Achuthanandan to quit as chief minister for violating party discipline.

The chief minister also voiced a totally different view than party general secretary Prakash Karat that the CPI-M would support any move by the government to legalise gay sex in the country.

"I felt bad when I heard it (court judgement) first. Why should we allow the entry of a fox in our family life?" the chief minister said.

Karat had welcomed the judgment Thursday and said: "In the light of the judgment, if there is any need to amend Section 377 (of the Indian Penal Code) we will support it."

Last updated on Jul 3^rd, 2009 at 22:13 pm IST--IANS