Pinarai Vijayan to be Chief Minister of Kerala

Thiruvananthapuram: The CPI (M) named Pinarai Vijayan for the Chief Ministership of Kerala on Friday.

CPI (M) general secretary Sitaram Yechuri told a media conference after a meeting of the State Secretariat and State Committee here that the party had taken a decision to propose Mr. Vijayan as the Chief Minister. Further steps would be taken by the State Secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan including discussions with Left Democratic Front (LDF) constituents on formation of the ministry.

Noting that veteran leader V. S. Achuthanandan led the election campaign from the front, the general secretary said that Mr. Achuthanandan was not chosen to head the government considering his age and physical limitations.

Mr. Yechuri said that Mr. Achuthanandan was like Fidel Castro of Cuba for Kerala. He would continue to advice and guide the government as Mr. Castro was doing now. Mr. Achuthanandan was the war horse of the revolutionary movement in India especially Kerala.

The general secretary commended the unity with which the party fought the elections and saluted the people of the State for reposing faith in the left democratic front. 

Mr. Achuthanandan and Mr. Balakrishnan were also present at the media conference.

Mr. Vijayan, who began his political career at an early age, was first elected to the Kerala Assembly in 1970. He has been State secretary of the party for 16 years from 1998. He had served as Minister for Electricity and Cooperation from 1996-98 in the Nayanar ministry. he became a member of CPI (M) polit bureau in 2002.