The CPI-M general secretary Prakash Karat [Images] in a press conference after the politburo meeting told media persons that Pinarayi Vijayan had the total consent of the CPI-M and that it was with the full support of the party that the Lavelin contract has been signed.

This statement from the party general secretary is seen by the official faction of the party as a major victory for them.

The Kerala secretary of the CPI-M Pinarayi Vijayan said that the party is supreme, as there are no individual voices in the CPI-M. This is seen as clear message to the Kerala Chief Minister VS Achuthanandan.

Achuthanandan while meeting media persons at the Kerala house in Delhi [Images] on Sunday said that he would continue his fight against corruption and that there is no going back for him.

However according to close sources of the chief minister there was a vertical division in the politburo and that several senior members were reluctant to support Vijayan, including the Tripura Chief Minister Manik Sarkar [Images] and the politburo member Brinda Karat.

The party had reached a consensus on the issue with the condition that there would not be more controversial statements from either of the leaders until the general elections are over.

The party fears that an open ouster of Achuthanandan or Vijayan from the party would create more fissures and would decrease the confidence level of the party cadres in the run-up to the general elections.

Sources close to the chief minister also indicated that there would be a thorough study on the Central Bureau of Investigation report on the SNC Lavelin case and that the open statement of the party general secretary that the party would reply to each and every point mentioned in the CBI report is a clear indicator to that. This has gladdened the rebels in the party and they have decided to continue with their fight within the party.

Achutanandan's close confidants have also revealed that the CM has decided to carry on the fight within the party.

Achuthanandan has also indicated that the present support that Pinarayi is getting from within and outside the party would not continue for long.

When asked whether the chief minister would take part in the yatra taken out by the CPI-M state secretary Pinarayi Vijayan , the CPI-M general secretary Prakash Karat said "Wait and watch."