CPI(M) denies media reports on removal of district secretary

CPI(M) leadership in Kerala today denied media reports that the party's Kannur district secretary P Sasi's removal from the post was on the basis of complaints of personal misconduct.

Sasi was relieved from the post purely on "health grounds" and all other interpretations were "media creation", state home minister and Polit Bureau member Kodiyeri Balakrishnan told reporters here.

"We did not get any complaint against him. If there had been complaints and action was taken on their basis, we would not have hestiated to make it public", Balakrishnan, who hails from Kannur district, said.

In a surprise move, the party district secretariat yesterday relieved Sasi of the key post and sanctioned him "leave" to go on for treatment.

A confidante of party state secretary Pinarayi Vijayan, removal of Sasi had sparked speculations that the action was based on a complaint from a youth wing leader.

P Jayarajan, MLA, was given the charge of the district, from where many of the top leaders, including Vijayan came.

Sasi himself had told reporters this was only a temporary arrangement as he wanted to go on treatment in a hospital.

Sasi had earlier served as political secretary to former chief minister late EK Nayanar.