Sebastian Paul told reporters in Kochi that Vijayan was behaving like late prime minister Indira Gandhi, who would brook no criticism.

'Indira Gandhi took a stern stand against the media and today Vijayan is doing the same. This is not good either for the society or even the party. The party and its leaders should behave in a more restrained manner and should not be averse to criticism,' Paul told reporters here.

Paul was the CPI M Lok Sabha member from the Ernakulam seat for six years from 2003 and he did not get a renomination in the 2009 polls.

'It should not be misread that I am opening up because I was denied a ticket. It was the Ernakulam CPI-M district secretary who called me and said that I will not be renominated. I never asked why nor did he say. I am now speaking out because I felt it is now the right time,' said Paul.

He said Vijayan was now under the influeence of a few senior journalists and also named them.

'The leaders of the party do not analyse situations, but are driven by the advice of a few. This does not augur well for the party and for them also,' said Paul.

While Chief Minister V.S.Achuthanandan did not respond to this, veteran CPI-M leader and former finance minister T.Sivadasa Menon denied that Vijayan was in the clutches of a few.