It’s final. Pinarayi Vijayan will be sworn-in as the 22nd Chief Minister of Kerala on 25 May at Thiruvananthapuram. The CPI(M) politburo member beat out his rival, the 92-year-old VS Achuthanandan for the top post.
Achuthanandan is a former chief minister and politburo member, but was removed from the Marxist party’s highest decision making body because of his “ideological positions”. He still remains the most popular leader in the Left front, if not in Kerala.
Achuthanandan’s age is being cited as the reason for passing him over, but sources within the CPI(M) told one of our senior reporters that internal politics and factionalism in the politburo may be another reason for Vijayan’s ascension.
Pinarayi is a good administrator and leader in his own right. VS is the most popular leader and would have helped in 2019 [general elections]. After the loss in Bengal though, his supporters could not push through VS’ candidature.CPI(M) Member
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