Miffed Achuthanandan walks out of party meet

Alappuzha: Former chief minister V S Achuthanandan Saturday walked out of the state CPI-M conference here after being pulled up for breaching party discipline.

During the morning session of the conference which began Friday, a grim-looking Achuthanandan walked out of the session. He was followed by a battery of reporters but the veteran headed for his home near here at Punnapara, and did not speak to anyone

Sources in the know of things said he was deeply hurt after a party report, tabled at meeting Friday which has more than 50 pages attacking the party veteran for his constant breach of party discipline, was being discussed.

On Friday evening, state party secretary Pinarayi Vijayan went hammer and tongs against his arch rival and after an hour, Achuthanandan hit back at Vijayan.

Trouble between the two has been a long standing problem for the cadre party and over the years, Vijayan's hold on the party has turned stronger, while Achuthanandan has been losing his ground in the party.