Pinarayi's intervention costs secretary his post; Suresh Babu had just one demand before party

PALAKKAD: There is a possibility of further disciplinary action against E N Suresh Babu, who was recently removed from the post of CPM Palakkad district secretary. Reports say the party may move towards expelling Suresh Babu from primary membership. A decision is likely to be taken at the state secretariat meeting to be held after the extended committee meetings. However, there is also a possibility that the party may appoint a special inquiry commission to investigate the complaint.

The commission may be appointed at the next state committee meeting. The party leadership assess that the sexual complaint filed by a woman lawyer is serious. The complainant has submitted digital evidence to the party regarding the incident in which she was called to the party office and humiliated. A demand to remove Suresh Babu from all party responsibilities had been raised at both the district secretariat and district committee meetings. The district leadership believed that Suresh Babu's continuation could lead to political repercussions for the party in the future.

Meantime, it is reported that Pinarayi Vijayan personally intervened in the decision to remove Suresh Babu. He was summoned directly to Malappuram and the complaint was read out to him. He was asked to step down from the post of district secretary. However, Suresh Babu is said to have requested the party not to make it public that he was removed due to the sexual harassment complaint.

Reasons cited by party for removing Suresh Babu

1) At the extended district committee meeting, Suresh Babu was criticised for failing completely to prevent factionalism and dissident activities within the party. It was argued that his failure to contain such developments contributed to the party's defeats in Thrithala, Kongad and Chittur in the Assembly election.

2) The main reason cited for the defeat in Chittur was the dissident issue in Kozhinjampara. Even after the dissidents were willing to hold discussions, the district secretary turned away from them. There was also criticism that his lack of maturity and alleged arrogant behaviour had harmed the party. Compared with the 2021 election, the party's vote share in the district declined by 67,000 votes.

3) The activity report presented at the meeting also criticised the CPM, alleging that the party had turned into a real-estate mafia. It further alleged that CPM leaders were involved in illegal land transactions in Attappady.

4) Reports had circulated that a woman from Ottapalam, a member of a lawyers' organisation, had filed a complaint against Suresh Babu with the state secretary.