Decision on Kerala CM on May 15

The Communist Party of India [ Images ] (Marxist) politburo has left the final decision on the appointment of Kerala's [ Images ] new chief minister to its legislature party in the state.

Prakash Karat [ Images ], general secretary, and Sitaram Yechury [ Images ], member of the politburo, will be travelling to Thiruvananthapuram on May 15, when the legislature party is due to meet.

• In Kerala, it is CPI-M versus CPI-M

Senior CPI-M [ Images ] leader V S Achuthanandan and the party's state secretary Pinarayi Vijayan are contenders for the post.

Taling to the press, Karat wondered how a 74-year-old is any younger to a 82-year-old when asked if there will be a younger chief minister in Kerala.

The politburo, however, approved the name of Buddhadeb Bhattacharya [ Images ] to head the council of ministers in West Bengal [ Images ]. The decision on other matters governance will be taken later, it was said.

• 'Naxalites only want to kill the police and CPI-M'

The politburo is to meet in Kolkata [ Images ] on May 27 and 28 to discuss the overall political situation. The subsequent report is to be presented to the central committee at its meeting in Hyderabad from June 8-10.