THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: CPM general secretary Sitaram Yechury will attend the state secretariat meeting here on Tuesday (March 1) to discuss poll related issues including the candidature of opposition leader V. S. Achuthanandan of politburo member Pinarayi Vijayan for the forthcoming Assembly elections.
The general secretary's visit to state comes in the wake of the discussions held between CPM state secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan and Mr Vijayan and party centre in New Delhi on Saturday. Though a range of issues were discussed at the meeting, there was no finality on the question of fielding Mr Achuthanandan and Mr Vijayan.
Sources said a majority of party politburo members including Mr Yechury were in favour of both Mr Achuthanandan and Mr Vijayan contesting the polls as they believe it would send a positive signal to the people and cadre.
The party leadership is keen to reach unanimity on the issue of Mr Achuthanandan and Mr Vijayan well ahead of polls, as it does not want a repeat of the confusion that prevailed in 2006 and 2011.
But the central leadership is against imposing its decision on the state unit. At the proposed secretariat meeting on Tuesday, Mr Yechury would hear the views of the top state leaders and also convey central leadership's opinion.
The party top brass wants to evolve a consensus on Achuthanandan-Vijayan issue ahead of the state committee meeting. Once the secretariat, in the presence of the central leadership, finalises the decision it would be easier to place as a unanimous opinion before the state committee members leaving not much room for dissent.
Meanwhile, CPM state secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan said the discussions to finalise the candidates for the forthcoming polls would e held only after the announcement of polls.
All issues including the upper age limit of the candidates would be taken later.
