Thiruvananthapuram, May 27
In his first public reaction to suspension from the CPM politburo in the wake of factional feud in the party, Kerala Chief Minister V. S. Achuthanandan today admitted it was a mistake to air differences in public. Achuthanandan and his detractor and state unit secretary Pinarayi Vijayan said the decision to suspend them was part of a correction process that would help the party in the state.

While Achuthandan told reporters here that it was a mistake to have aired differences through the media, Vijayan said at a public meeting that the politburo decision would only improve the image of the party in which all leaders were expected to work according to organisational principles. Achuthanandan said he wholeheartedly supported the disciplinary action.

“It is natural to commit occasional mistakes while serving people and the country. It is for the party to detect mistakes and lead partymen in the right direction,” an unruffled Achuthanandan said. — PTI