Kerala to hold judicial probe on AK Saseendran

KOCHI: The Kerala government decided to hold a judicial investigation into the allegations that led to the resignation of AK Saseendran from Pinarayi Vijayan’s cabinet.

Saseendran, who was the transport minister in the LDF government, resigned on Sunday after a local TV channel released an audio tape that contained a lewd conversation over the phone purportedly between the Nationalist Congress Party leader and a woman.

Chief minister Vijayan said on Monday that the cabinet will decide on who will conduct the investigation. He said Saseendran resigned not because he accepted guilt, but to uphold the morality in political life.

CPM state secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan welcomed Saseendran’s decision to resign. The NCP will naturally get the ministerial berth that has fallen vacant due to the resignation of Saseendran, said Balakrishnan.

Uzavoor Vijayan, NCP’s state president, said the party will discuss about its nominee for the position in its next meeting. Thomas Chandy, its MLA from Kuttanad, has already said the party should consider him for the post.

However, there are reports that the central leadership of the CPM, the main ruling party, does not approve the choice of Chandy. They have reportedly conveyed this to the NCP leadership.