At 92, Achuthandan ready for another poll battle

New Delhi, Feb 18:  Marxist leader and former Kerala chief minister V.S. Achuthandan said on Thursday that he was ready to contest the coming assembly election in the state. “Yes, I will contest if the party wants me to contest,” the 92-year-old Communist Party of India-Marxist veteran told reporters here. A six-time legislator, Achuthandan — now the leader of the opposition in the house — won his first assembly election in 1967. He faced a shock defeat in 1996, attributed to infighting in his party. A hugely popular leader, he was the chief minister in 2006-11 and has been the opposition leader since 2011. If the Left wins the upcoming assembly polls, Achuthandan may be pitted against Pirayi Vijayan, another Marxist leader who is also a contender for the chief minister’s post. (IANS)