The Hindu : National : Achuthanandan meets Karat

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Saturday, May 13, 2006

National

National

Achuthanandan meets Karat

Special Correspondent

Non-committal about next Chief Minister

V. S. Achuthanandan

NEW DELHI: V.S. Achuthanandan — one of the contenders for the post of Kerala Chief Minister — arrived here on Friday afternoon to a rousing welcome at the Delhi Airport and later in Kerala House. Supporters lauded him for his crusade against the mafia elements in the State.

Mr. Achuthanandan remained non-committal on who would be the next Chief Minister of Kerala, maintaining it would be known by May 15.

He opened up considerably after meeting Communist Party of India (Marxist) general secretary Prakash Karat at the party headquarters in A.K.G. Bhavan. However, he maintained silence on the issue of Chief Minister and insisted that the victory for the Left Democratic Front in Kerala was an "LDF sweep and not a V.S. sweep."

The octogenarian politician admitted that the LDF had not fared as well as anticipated in Alappuzha — his native district — and Kottayam. While stating that the party's poor showing in these two districts ought to be examined, Mr. Achuthanandan said this was by far the most important victory in his long political career. This is the first time he has won an election when the LDF too has been voted to power, breaking a jinx that has dogged his political career. All previous elections he has won, the LDF has lost.

Stating that women had voted in strength for the LDF, he said the Government should seriously follow up all cases of sexual harassment. Similarly, he said there would be no let-up on corruption cases, insisting that his activism would continue.

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