With the Left in Kerala all set to form the government for the sixth time -making a huge comeback- 72-year-old Pinarayi Vijayan will now become the state’s next Chief Minister.

A meeting of CPI(M) leaders  on Friday decided that Pinarayi Vijayan will take on the mantle, even as there was speculation that VS Achutanandan wanted to be Chief Minister for the first six months.

Achutanandan’s confidantes however reject these rumours. The state executive meeting of the CPI(M) will make an official announcement in Thriuvananthapuram.

Friction between the two leaders is no secret both within the ranks of the communist party as well as outside, the tall task for the party leadership lies in subsequent damage-control after such an announcement, as both leaders are known to have their own share of clout within the party.

In the state assembly polls that were held on Monday, results of which were declared on Thursday, out of the 140 seats, LDF won 91 (85 + 6 independents who contested under the Left banner), UDF made do with 47 while BJP finally opened its maiden account in the state assembly with a seat from Nemom constituency in Thiruvananthapuram.

Veteran leader and Ledaer of the Opposition in the outgoing state Legislative Assembly, VS Achuthanandan increased his winning margin to 27142 votes in the Malampuzha constituency in Palakkad while CPI(M) politburo member and state party strongman Pinarayi Vijayan won from Dharmadom constituency in Kannur by 36905 votes.