THIRUVANANTHPURAM: Despite the controversy surrounding the exclusion of Opposition Leader V S Achuthanandan, the LDF has decided to go ahead with the Assembly segment convention at Aryanad on Wednesday without the veteran leader.
CPM state secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan will inaugurate the convention at the V K Auditorium at Aryanad at 4 pm.
Though Left leaders including LDF convenor Vaikom Viswan and candidate M Vijaykumar spoke to the veteran leader, there was no decision on bringing him to the convention. The opposition leader, however, reportedly told the leaders that he would take part in the campaign if invited.
The LDF leadership is now planning to organise a series of public meetings in the constituency which would be addressed by the Opposition leader and CPM politburo member Pinarayi Vijayan. The leadership believes that these meetings would be able to galvanise the Left cadre in the constituency.
Meanwhile, all top leaders of LDF including CPI state secretary Kanam Rajendran, C Divakaran, Janata Dal (Secular) president Mathew Thomas, Neelalohithadasan Nadar, NCP state president Uzhavoor Vijayan, Anti merger group leader Scaria Thomas, V Surendran Pillai and Congress S president Kadanapally Ramachandran will address the convention on Wednesday.
Besides, leaders of political parties who are cooperating with the LDF including K R Arvindakshan, Babu Divakaran, M M Mahin, Advocate Ram Mohan and Unnicheckkan will take part in the meet.
However, the notable absentee would be Kerala Congress (B) leader R Balakrishnan Pillai whose name does not figure in the list of speakers.
A section of LDF is still wary of the outcome of the association with Balakrishna Pillai against whom Achuthanandan had fought a relentless battle for more than two decades resulting in his conviction in the Idamalayar case .
Meanwhile, LDF convenor Vaikom Viswan said that the issue pertaining to Mr Achuthanandan would be discussed and settled by the local leadership which was responsible for planning the rallies and public meetings as part of the campaign.
