Waiting to rule God's own country
Who is the crowd-puller in this election? No, it isn't a film star, or even Congress president Sonia Gandhi. It is 83-year old veteran Marxist leader Veliyakathu Sankaran Achuthanandan!
Achuthanandan has been harbouring the ambition of being chief minister for many years. And he would have been, had he not been defeated in the 1996 assembly elections. He had a chance in the 2001 elections too, but the Left Democratic Front was defeated.
His admirers and aids say these elections could be the last chance for Achuthanandan. In the last few months, he fought with his party -- the CPI(M) -- for a seat to fight the polls. His enmity with arch-rival CPI(M) state secretary Pinarayi Vijayan also continues.
Despite heavy odds -- his age and the strong resentment against him by a faction led by Vijayan -- Achuthanandan is touring the length and breadth of Kerala. Party insiders say that if the LDF is voted to power, which is likely, Achuthanandan is a sure bet to be the next CM.
When asked how many seats the LDF may get this time, he says, "More than 100, I am sure."
Also See: How V S Achuthanandan pipped Pinarayi Vijayan