VS Achuthanandan criticises CM Pinarayi Vijayan for his pat on Alphons Kannanthanam

Thiruvananthapuram: Senior CPM leader V.S. Achuthanandan has taken a dig at Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan for congratulating Alphons Kannanthanam soon after he was sworn in as the union minister. Ms Achuthanandan said in a statement here on Sunday that there was nothing worth congratulating Mr Kannanthanam as his act was a sign of political decay. Mr Kannanthanam joined the cabinet seeking better facilities from fascist forces though the country and politics are bigger than personal gains, he said referring to his change of political affiliation after he became a Left- supported MLA from 2006 to 2011.

"This change of position should not have happened to a Left fellow traveller. He should never have become a tool in the hands of fascists. The love for the country should have stood above the love for a post. This should be a lesson when the Left selects the candidates," said Mr Achuthanandan. It was during the tenure of Mr Achuthanandan as chief minister that Mr Alphons became an MLA supported by LDF. Mr Kannanthanam, in his response to the criticism, said that the veteran leader had become quite old and hence he could say anything.