Yechury dismisses reports of division on electing him as GS

Thiruvananthapuram: CPI-M General Secretary Sitaram Yechury Saturday dismissed as media creation reports that a section in the party from Kerala opposed his elevation as party chief at the 21st party congress held at Vishakapatnam.

"My answer to the question in a single word is No," Yechury told a meet-the-press programme here to a question that a section in the party in the state was not in favour of him being elected as party General secretary at the party congress held from April 14-19.

"Election was unanimous. When election took place, I was elected unanimously," he said when pointed out that reports suggested that a section in Kerala favoured senior party politburo member S Ramachandran Pillai for the top post.

There was no conflict in the party in Kerala and all decisions were taken collectively, he said.

"Once a decision is taken collectively, it becomes decision of the party," he added.

"No conflict in the party. In the party we take collective decisions. In a party democracy, differences of opinion are natural," he said.

On issues connected with CPI-M veteran and opposition leader V S Achuthanandan, who had walked out of the party state meet held at Alappuzha in February last following differences with party leadership, Yechury said the party's new politburo would meet and look into the issues.

All organisational matters would be discussed by the new politburo and Central Committee of the party, he said.