At 92, Achuthanandan ready for another poll battle

New Delhi, Feb 18 (IANS) Marxist leader and former Kerala chief minister V.S. Achuthanandan 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, Achuthanandan -- 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, Achuthanandan may be pitted against Pinarayi Vijayan, another Marxist leader who is also a contender for the chief minister's post.