CPI(M) leader VS Achuthanandan has said that the Left Democratic Front’s (LDF) liquor policy is what has already been stated by CPI(M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury.
In his Facebook post titled ‘What Yechuri has stated is the party’s liquor policy,’ ‘VS’ also said that the bars closed already by the Oommen Chandy government in the State would not be reopened.
The LDF’s liquor policy stands for cutting down alcohol consumption by stages, and ultimately for abstinence, he added.
Yechuri’s statement that the shuttered bars would not be reopened is part of this policy, he said, adding: “Then where is the confusion over the LDF’s liquor policy?”
Achuthanandan’s post is an indirect dig at Pinarayi Vijayan, his rival in the party and Politburo member. Vijayan recently remarked that the liquor policy will be decided on after the LDF wins the election and forms the government. This had been interpreted to suggest that the LDF, if it forms the government, will allow the closed bars to reopen. However, Yechuri had said that the closed bars would not be reopened at all.
VS, in his post, also said that the current system of liquor supply will be restructured if the LDF comes to power.
“The restructuring will be aimed at effectively reducing alcohol consumption. What is needed is not closing down all bars at one go. It is necessary to build a culture that helps abstinence and a campaign needs to be carried out for this,” the CPI(M) leader noted.