KOZHIKODE: In a major embarrassment to the CPM-led Left Democratic Front Government, Transport Minister A K Saseendran announced his resignation on Sunday following allegations of a sleazy telephone conversation with a woman.
The allegation comes as a double whammy to the Pinarayi Vijayan ministry already facing flak over spiralling atrocities against women and minors.
The 71-year-old minister announced his resignation in Kozhikode hours after a regional news channel aired an audio clip of an alleged phone conversation of Saseendran talking with lewd undertones to a woman, who approached him for some assistance.
“I haven’t done anything wrong and I am confident about it,” Saseendran told Express. “I am resigning because I don’t want to create an embarrassing situation to the LDF, which is facing a byelection in Malappuram. Let there be a probe and truth will prevail.”
“I am resigning to uphold political morality. Only a detailed probe will bring out the truth and I am ready for it,” said Saseendran, who is the sole representative of the NCP in the ministry. Kuttanad MLA Thomas Chandy is the other NCP presence in the Assembly. Party insiders said they never expected him to resign based on the news as there was no formal complaint by the woman with whom the minister allegedly spoke.
A member of the NCP National Council, Saseendran represents the Elathur constituency in Kozhikode. He made his debut in the Assembly in 1980 and went on to win the 1982, 2006, 2011 and 2016 elections.
NCP sources said the party executive would hold a detailed inquiry into the shocking episode.