Joking about his election track record, Achuthanandan - who loses when his party wins and wins when his party loses, Sunday said he did not expect history to repeat itself.

When Achuthanandan, 83, was all set to become chief minister in 1996, he suffered a shock defeat at the Marxist stronghold of Mararikulam in Alappuzha district on account of internal party squabbles.

In the 2001 polls, he won but his party and the Left Democratic Front (LDF) was routed and managed just 40 seats in the 140-member assembly.

"Think positive. Just because this happened once, it does not mean that it is going to happen every time. This time nothing of that is going to happen," Achuthanandan told reporters here.

This year Achuthanandan's name was initially missing from the list of candidates. However, following a huge outcry from his supporters, the party's politburo decided to field him from Malampuzha in Palakkad district, from where he was elected last time.

"Don't be impatient. At the appropriate time I will let you know who will become the chief minister if the LDF is voted to power this time," said the tailor-turned-communist when asked if he was all set for chief ministerial post.

Achuthanandan parried questions on the manner in which his name was included in the list at the last minute.

"Our party general secretary has given convincing answers to all such questions. That is a closed chapter and we need not open it again," he said.

On allegations of being anti-development, Achuthanandan said: "When the government sided with various mafias, it was we - the opposition - who fought tooth and nail to protect the state's natural resources like forests, sandalwood, beach properties and similar issues.

"If on that account I am termed anti-development, I am only pleased to take on that tag."