The CPi(M)’s leadership has acted decisively against Kerala chief minister V.S. Achuthanan-dan, denying him a party nomination even at the risk of the Left losing a few seats in the crucial April 13 Assembly polls in the state. Controversial state party secretary Pinarayi Viajayan is also out of the fray.

The CPI(M) decision to deny an Assembly ticket to the Kerala Chief Minister, Mr V.S. Achuthanandan, may not trigger passionate street protests as in 2006, but the party will have a hard time explaining it to people in the 140 Assembly segments across the State.

While the ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF) has wrapped up seat sharing and has even released its manifesto, allies of the Congress-led Opposition United Democratic Front (UDF) are still wrangling over seats.

Kerala’s Opposition leader Oommen Chandy has welcomed the vigilance court nod for a further probe in the palmolein oil case, though he appeared tentative on the next course of action.

The CPI(M) district committee of northern Kasargod has volunteered to offer an Assembly seat to the beleaguered Kerala chief minister V.S. Achuthannadan, lending him a last-minute breather.

Keralites cannot be faulted if they feel a sense of déjà vu on poll eve as the beleaguered chief minister V.S. Achuthanandan is once again using his leverage with the masses to persuade his party bosses to come clear on the status of his candidature for the April 13 Kerala Assembly elections.

The first poll forecast in Kerala is out, indicating that the Opposition Congress-led United Democratic Front will end the five-year left Democratic Front reign and come to power, notching 77 to 87 seats in the 140-seat Assembly.

There’s already a sure sign of the Red fade in Kerala – its campaign for re-election is increasingly acerbic, personal.