THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Congress-led UDF is eagerly waiting to hear the reaction of Opposition Leader V. S. Achuthanandan on Lavalin issue to attack CPM politburo member Pinarayi Vijayan who is heading the Navakerala Yatra.
KPCC president V. M. Sudheeran on Saturday dared Mr Achuthanandan to speak his mind. Coming as it is ahead of crucial Assembly polls, the move is seen as a strategy to put the CPM on the defensive.
Congress leaders including UDF convener P. P. Thankachan and M. M. Hassan have been provoking Mr Achuthanandan to open up on the issue.
The UDF is hopeful that Mr Achuthanandan would take an anti-Pinarayi stand.
They say Mr Achuthanandan had last spoken on SNC Lavalin in November 2013 when he said his previous stand had no relevance in view of the CBI exonerating Mr Vijayan.
It may be recalled that Mr Achuthanandan had dropped a bombshell in January 2013, accusing Prakash Karat led central leadership of throwing out of politburo for speaking the in Lavalin case.
“Pinarayi is not above board in Lavalin corruption case. I don't think it is a fabricated case and targeted against any individual.Balanandan Committee, which studied the mater in detail, had pointed out serious discrepancies and conveyed this to Prakash Karat,” Mr Achuthanandan had told a Malayalam channel in 2013 creating an upheaval in the CPM.
While CPM general secretary Sitaram Yechury and top party leaders have termed Lavalin case politically motivated with an eye on Assembly elections, Mr Achuthanandan continues to maintain a studied silence and that’s what is worrying the party.
A section of party leaders, however, claim that the veteran leader might not take things too far this time around, especially in view of the threat posed to Left movement by Sangh parivar outfits.
