Thiruvananthapuram, July 12 - The Communist Party of India-Marxist's (CPI-M) move to drop Kerala Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan from politburo has brought cheer to his detractors, but his die-hard supporters have openly rallied behind him.

The party's effort to end the growing factionalism in the state unit, thus, appears likely to further deepen the rift within the party.

The CPI-M state unit is racked by the running feud between the 85-year-old hardline chief minister and the party's state unit boss Pinarayi Vijayan.

Within hours of the CPI-M's central committee deciding to censure Achuthanandan for not toeing the party line, posters rooting for the chief minister came up at many places in Kerala.

Posters put up by his supporters at Pallakad, Kollam and here read: 'VS, you are right and we are with you.'

State Power Minister and senior CPI-M leader A.K.Balan, however, maintained that Achuthanandan's demotion is just a corrective measure.

'This is the best decision that could be arrived at by the central leadership and this is going to be accepted by both the cadre and the people here. He is certain to accept the decision and will do nothing wrong,' said Balan.

CPI-M state committee member and veteran trade union leader M.M. Lawerence said over the years the party has taken up corrective measures and this is just a continuation of the same.