Pinarayi Vijayan calls upon VS Achuthanandan, Oommen Chandy, seeks guidance

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: It was a day of courtesy calls for the CPM politburo member and chief minister in waiting Pinarayi Vijayan as he set out from his house on Saturday morning to meet leaders. The first stop was outgoing Opposition Leader V S Achthandnan’s official residence Cantonment House. Pinarayi accompanied by Kodiyeri Balakrishnan arrived there at 9.15 am in full media glare, went inside the house.

After exchanging pleasantries with Achuthanandan who was wearing his favourite blue T Shirt, both leaders shook hands giving a rare photo op to a battery of photographers stationed there since morning. The three leaders were then closeted for over 15 minutes.

“From our party he was the last chief minister and someone with practical experience. I wanted to seek his guidance and wanted to get an understanding from him. I can be considered as a new comer. So we wanted to learn from his experience, on issues that the government should focus on,” he told media-persons after emerging from Achuthandan’s room.