In a huge embarrassment to the CPI(M)-led Left Democratic Front government in Kerala, transport minister A K Saseendran (NCP) resigned on Sunday after allegations of misconduct with a woman surfaced against him.
The woman had reportedly approached the minister for some favour. Ironically, the incident surfaced at a time when the state is debating growing atrocities against women and children.
A new Malayalam news channel named Mangalam which launched on Sunday dropped an audio bomb claiming that a clip it aired on the channel earlier in the day was a phone conversation between a woman and the minister in which the 71-year-old Saseendran is heard talking in a sexually explicit way.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mycrGR3djc8
“I don’t remember talking to anyone in such a manner. I will come out unscathed. I am resigning from the ministry to uphold the integrity of my party and coalition,” the minister said while announcing his resignation in Kozhikkode in north Kerala. He said he has asked the CM to order a high-level probe into the incident.
Saseendran, of Nationalist Congress Party, a coalition party of LDF, said he had already informed Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, who he said had not sought his resignation.
The minister said his resignation should not be seen as an acceptance of guilt. “My resignation is to uphold political morality”, he told reporters.
Saseendran also mentioned that he is stepping down to uphold the values of the party and doesn’t want the party’s image to be diminished due to the controversy.
The five-time legislator started his political career with the Congress but later switched his loyalty to Sharad Pawar’s party. The NCP which is part of LDF in Kerala, has two legislators. He is the second minister to quit the 10-month-old Pinarayi ministry.
Industries minister E P Jayarajan was forced to quit six months back after he employed his close relatives in key posts in state PSUs ignoring all norms.
