With the LDF scoring a spectacular victory in Kerala, the mantle of Chief Ministership is expected to fall on CPI(M) politburo member VS Achuthanandan.
His party can no longer ignore the 82-year-old veteran, who was the central figure in the election arena this time.
According to party sources, the politburo will be meeting on Saturday in Delhi to make its choice on the issue, then report it to the state Secretariat here on May 14 and get the decision formalised by the state committee the next day.
Though the factionalism in CPI(M) in Kerala is far from over, Achuthanandan's detractors know that the party will have to face serious consequences if they sideline the senior leader once again.
The CPI(M) central leadership, which through a rare but stern intervention reversed the decision of the state Secretariat controlled by Kerala unit secretary Pinarayi Vijayan to keep Achuthanandan off the electoral fray, is also aware that the mass appeal of the party stalwart was a major factor that worked for the LDF's sterling performance.
Ironically, the poll-eve twists and turns in the party boosted the image of Achuthanandan significantly, as was evident from the huge crowds he pulled during the campaign and the high ratings scored in poll surveys.
{{/usCountry}}Ironically, the poll-eve twists and turns in the party boosted the image of Achuthanandan significantly, as was evident from the huge crowds he pulled during the campaign and the high ratings scored in poll surveys.
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