I have not gone after positions, says Achuthanandan

Thiruvananthapuram: CPM veteran and former Kerala Chief Minister V S Achuthanandan on Wednesday denied giving a note to CPM General Secretary Sitaram Yechury seeking a position for him in the government. “I can say with boldness that I have not gone after positions during the seven decade long public life. During my public life, the party has given me certain positions. I have accepted that proudly,” the 93-year-old Communist leader said in a Facebook post. [caption id=“attachment_2790614” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  Veteran Left leader VS Achuthanandan. AFP[/caption] “If I want a position in the new LDF government, I do not have to handover a note to party General Secretary amidst swearing-in ceremony of the government,“Achuthanandan said while denying the reports that he had given the note to Yechury during the new ministry’s swearing-in ceremony on 25 May. “On that day and before I met Yechury alone and otherwise many times. It is difficult to describe the imagination of the report that I have given the note in a bit paper during the swearing in function,“Achuthanandan said. “What Yechury also had said on the issue was that certain suggestions have come and that has been handed over. The comrade has not said that I have given a note to him seekingany position,” Achuthanandan said. Stating that he had entered into public life without an eye on positions, Achuthanandan, said because of that “I will continue to be one among the people.” The veteran leader was not considered by the party for the post of Chief Minister this time considering his age and selected party politburo member Pinarayi Vijayan, once a bete noire of Achuthanandan, for the post. It was reported that Achuthanandan would be accommodated in the government by providing him with a senior position. After the politburo meeting in New Delhi earlier this week, Yechury had said that a formal decision on providing post to Achuthanadan would be taken by the state government. The issue had become a talking point in the state last week when print and electronic media published certain visuals showing the veteran reading a note while attending the swearing-in ceremony of the Pinarayi Vijayan Cabinet and giving it to Yechury.