Sexual allegation against CPM leader

THIRUVANANTHAPRAM:  Close on the heels of the expulsion of Kannur district secretary P Sasi and Ernakulam district secretary Gopi Kottamurikkal on allegations of sexual misconduct, a new one has cropped up against a CPM state committee member.

A complaint by the wife of a regional leader and another woman has been handed over to party state secretary Pinarayi Vijayan.

The leader on whom the charges have been raised belongs to the official faction. Both the women alleged that the leader tried to exploit them sexually. A written complaint was lodged to the state secretary after action was not taken when hinted to the leaders about it. The party didn’t want the incident to go public.

The sexual allegation issue against P Sasi and Gopi Kottamurikkal created a controversy in the party. Both were state committee members. Kottamurikkal was trapped through a hidden camera. The party later expelled both from the party.

Even though an allegation was raised against P Sasi, the state leadership first didn’t take any action. The leadership was not willing to digest the allegation.  Action was taken later following the strict intervention of the central leadership. The VS faction too sought action against them.