LDF will not stake claim to power, Congress in alliance with communal forces: Achutanandan

Kerala chief minister VS Achutanandan said CPIM, despite being the biggest party in Kerala, will not stake claim to form the government and blamed communal forces for working against him.

“There is no need. We don’t have the numbers to rule,” Achutandan, widely credited with the unexpectedly good performance by the left in the assembly polls.

“We are not interested in rounding up discontents and patching up a coalition. I shall go to the Rajbhawan today and submit my resignation,” he said.

He also took potshots at “communal elements” — a reference to the Nair Service Society, which represents the pro-Congress upper caste Hindus and Christian and Muslim organizations — in his final press conference as the current CM of Kerala.

“It would be interesting to see how they would appease these communal forces and rule,” Achutanandan said, referring to the Congress party which often gets overt and covert support from these groups.

He pointed out that except in districts like Malappuram, Kottayam and Ernakulam — where Christians and Muslims dominate — the Congress has not been able to put up a good fight in any of the other districts of Kerala.

“There was a consolidation of communal powers. They personally attacked me,” he said, referring to recent statements by the NSS leadership against him.

He refused to take credit for the good performance by LDF in the current elections and said the party will decide who will lead the party in the assembly.