THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: In a significant statement coming from an LDF leader for the first time in the run-up to the local bodies polls, CPI legislature party leader C. Divakaran has said that Opposition Leader V.S. Achuthanandan should lead the front in the Assembly elections next year.
“I don't see any reason why Achuthanandan should not contest the Assembly elections. He should intervene in the Assembly elections and by contesting the polls the intervention should be even stronger,”
Mr Divakaran said and added that it was the desire of the Left and also the people of the state.
“But whether he wants to stay away or contest is to be decided by him,” he added. The CPI leader said VS should be the main campaigner and lead the LDF. His campaign, intervention and presence in the political sphere provided a lot of strength to the LDF.
“This is what I feel. I don’t have any doubt about it. He is an elderly, experienced leader who is widely accepted by all sections. His rustic speech is liked by the masses, people like his voice and love his face. But that does not mean there are no other big leaders in that party. In fact, there is no dearth of leaders in the LDF,” he added.
Later, at a press conference, Mr Divakaran did not speak about Mr Achuthanandan leading the LDF in the Assembly polls in as many words. “The LDF workers do not rally behind just one leader. Once we get a majority, these issues will be sorted out in 5 minutes,” he said .
Mr Divakaran said there was no question of taking the Muslim League in the LDF. “There is nothing common in our ideology or policies. We cannot accept the League in our front. CPI does not follow a policy of having an understanding with the League just to get four or five seats. We will have the same stand in the coming Assembly elections,” he said.
The RSP and the Janata Dal which had quit the LDF would return to the front within six months, he said.
