KANNUR: The CPM on Saturday decided to take former Kannur district secretary P Sasi back into the party, much to the displeasure of party rank and file. The decision, taken by the state committee, was reported in the recently-concluded Kannur district committee meeting. Sasi was dismissed in 2011 over allegations of sexual misconduct. Steps to reinduct him will begin once the decision is reported in the Thalasserry area committee, to be held soon.
Sasi was dismissed from CPM in July 2011, after serious sexual allegations were levelled against him. He was exonerated by the Hosdurg Magistrate Court last year in the case filed by T P Nandakumar. With the court exonerating him, Sasi had conveyed his desire to the leaders about his re-entry. Since he had come out clean in the case, state committee also had taken a position in his favour. After he was ousted from CPM, Sasi shifted base to Thalassery and has been practising as an advocate in Thalasserry court.
It is said he had informed the leadership about his willingness to get a membership under Thalasserry area committee which is why the decision of the state committee is being reported in the Thalasserry committee. It is said even after his ouster, he had been in constant touch with the top CPM leaders. Such is his clout in the party, point out his detractors in the party. He had appeared in court for the party in many cases T P murder and Kathirur Manoj murder. He was also being inducted into the district committee of pro CPM organisation of advocates.
Meanwhile, actions were taken by the party against those who had lodged complaints against Sasi to the party in connection with sexual allegations. CKP Padmanabhan, a much-respected leader among the common party workers, was relegated to the branch committee from state committee and the DYFI leader who had lodged the complaint against Sasi is out of the party now.
As the state committee has become disenchanted with the one-upmanship style of leadership by the present district secretary P Jayarajan, the reinduction of former district heavy weight will be watched keenly by the party workers in the district. Many believe it is to clip the wings of P Jayarajan, who is being viewed by the state leadership as a man trying to grow beyond the party.
Kept in touch
Even after his ouster, Sasi had reportedly been in touch with the party’s top leaders and informed them of his willingness to get a membership under the Thalasserry area committee