Chief Minister sought AG's legal advice, CPM central leadership demanded action; this is what led to resignation of Saji Cheriyan

NEW DELHI: It was the CPM central leadership that thwarted Saji Cheriyan's plan to play down his controversial speech against the Constitution by referring to it as a slip of the tongue. The party's central leadership was unhappy that the issue was being discussed at the national level. The CPM state leadership demanded Saji Cheriyan's resignation after the central leadership demanded action against him. It was state secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan who asked Saji Cheriyan to resign.

The CPM had found itself on the defensive after the state minister criticized the Constitution at a time when the party had been calling for the protection of the Constitution at the national level. The CPM available PB also assessed that Saji Cheriyan's statement was unnecessary.