Chief Minister, V. S. Achuthanandan said on Thursday that he will be in the fray if his party asks him to contest in the forthcoming April 13 elections to the State Legislative Assembly.
Responding to queries at “Janavidhi 2011” organised by the Kesari Memorial Journalists’ Trust here, Mr. Achuthanandan said it is for the CPI(M) to decide who should lead the party in the elections.
“The party will decide. I will respond after that. I will contest if the party asks. It is for the party to decide on the constituency’, he said on being asked whether he is seeking a new constituency and who will be the Chief Minister if the LDF comes back to power.
Asserting that the LDF will come back to power in the state, Mr. Achuthanandan said the people of the state want the CPI(M)-led government to be back in the saddle as they want the ‘golden period of welfare, development and peace’ to continue.
The LDF will repeat the victory, the Chief Minister said, adding that it will project the achievements made during the last five years with pride and confidence and unitedly fight the elections. To a query, he said there is no crisis in the LDF on seat allocation.
Welcoming the Supreme Court verdict on the appointment of the Chief Vigilance Commissioner (CVC), the Chief Minister said P. J. Thomas who figures in the Palmolien case was appointed ignoring the views of the Opposition and flouting the norms. “Union Home Minister, P. Chidambaram and others should resign in the wake of the Thursday’s apex court’s verdict’, he added.
Asked on how Mr.Thomas was made the Chief Secretary by the LDF Government headed by him, the Chief Minister said they were aware that he figured in the case that was pending in the court. “Nearly 27 IAS officers came to me and told that he will be the best person to occupy the post of Chief Secretary. They requested me and I accepted their request”, he said.
