The Hindu : Front Page : Achuthanandan, Pinarayi admit they erred

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, May 28, 2007
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Achuthanandan, Pinarayi admit they erred

Special Correspondent

Polit Bureau decision will prove beneficial for the party

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The day after the CPI (M) Polit Bureau handed down a stern punishment to both of them, Kerala Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan and CPI (M) State secretary Pinarayi Vijayan have admitted that they had erred in airing their views in public.

While the Chief Minister likened the party to a parent who chides her children whenever they commit mistakes, Mr. Vijayan said they were punished because they had not heeded the Polit Bureau's warnings. Both said the Polit Bureau decision would prove beneficial for the party in Kerala and strengthen it further.

Erring children

Replying to questions from mediapersons here on Sunday, Mr. Achuthanandan said the party is like one's parents and gurus who would punish erring children. "Some mistakes and failings will be there when one works for the people. The party is like one's mother and father or gurus. We will be punished for some of our mistakes. We will see the punishment as part of efforts at rectification of mistakes and accept it wholeheartedly," the Chief Minister said.

``It is a punishment''

Asked if the action was the fallout of factionalism in the party, Mr. Achuthanandan said it is a punishment for his and Mr. Vijayan's engaging in a public exchange through the media.

Mr. Vijayan, who touched upon the issue while addressing a news conference at Kasaragod, said the Polit Bureau had decided to suspend him and Mr. Achuthanandan from the powerful party body for deviating from the norms set by the party. The CPI (M), he pointed out, is a party that works on Leninist organisational principles.

He added that the disciplinary action showed that the party had a strong leadership. It would also send a strong message to everyone within the party, he said. Although there were demands from the rival political parties for the resignation of the two leaders from their posts, the constituents of the ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF) were not forthcoming with any public remark about the development.

However, in private they were all praise for the firmness shown by the CPI (M) national leadership and were hopeful that it would do good for the alliance and its Government.

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