Months after he was suspended for sexual misconduct, CPI(M)’s PK Sasi pushes for comeback

Sasi was suspended from the party in November 2018 after a woman DYFI member alleged that the MLA had sexually harassed her.
Months after he was suspended for sexual misconduct, CPI(M)’s PK Sasi pushes for comeback
Months after he was suspended for sexual misconduct, CPI(M)’s PK Sasi pushes for comeback
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The CPI(M) in Kerala has given the green signal to reinstate Shoranur MLA PK Sasi after he was suspended from the party last year following allegations of sexual harassment against him by a woman member of the DYFI (youth wing of the CPI(M). However, sources in the party told TNM that there was disagreement within the Palakkad District Committee on whether Sasi should be reinstated as a Secretariat Member of the District Committee, a demand put forward by his supporters.

In November 2018, the Shoranur MLA’s primary membership was suspended for six months after the sexual harassment allegation surfaced against him. A probe committee found that he had spoken in an improper manner on the phone with the woman, however it had also said that there was not enough evidence to prove that he had harassed her at the party office later.

The proposal to reinstate the MLA in the District Committee was mooted by his supporters, but it was met with strong opposition from a section of the committee. State committee members including MB Rajesh, M Chandran, district secretariat members TK Narayandas and P Mammikutty opposed the decision. State committee member NN Krishnadas reportedly withheld expressing his opinion on the issue. 

“The party’s constitution guarantees that he will get back his primary membership after his suspension period is over. The six month suspension got over in May. However, a few in the party believe that making him part of District Committee sends a wrong message,” a source told TNM. 

In June 2019, the woman DYFI member who had made the allegations against PK Sasi quit her post in the DYFI. She had complained to both the state and national leadership of the CPI(M) against the Shoranur MLA. She resigned from the post of DYFI district committee and block secretariat committee in Mannarkkad. She resigned from all organisational posts she held in the DYFI, but said she would continue to be in the youth wing.

Prior to her resignation, the complainant had stated that she was harassed and hounded by DYFI leaders ever since she raised the allegation against Sasi. She added that only a few leaders stood by her during that time and went on to claim that a few people who had supported her were demoted from their positions in the party.

The district secretariat member of DYFI from Mannarkad who stood by the complainant was demoted to the position of district committee member allegedly for supporting the woman. Further, another person who had allegedly abused the woman on social media and lent support to the MLA who has been accused of sexual harassment has been elevated to the position of vice president.

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