THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Actor and MLA Mukesh gave an explanation to Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan in connection with the sexual harassment complaint of the actress. Mukesh said the allegation is not true and that the complainant had threatened him. Mukesh told the chief minister that he has the WhatsApp messages sent by the actress. Mukesh gave an explanation to the chief minister yesterday. The explanation was given amid intensifying protests including by the opposition for his resignation.

Meantime, the CPI, the main constituent in the Left Front, had publicly demanded his resignation. K Ajitha and CPI leader Annie Raja had also demanded his resignation. Under the leadership of writer Sarah Joseph, 100 women activists from all fields had signed and issued a statement.

Meanwhile, there is a strong demand from within the CPM that Mukesh should resign as MLA. The party had given clear indications to Mukesh that he would have to step aside from the film policy committee when the sexual allegations were raised against him. The party leadership had taken a stand that there should be no intervention in a way of helping or justifying Mukesh. Especially since BJP and UDF came strongly against Mukesh. Even before the revelation of the actress, there was strong resentment against Mukesh in the CPM. The main criticism was that his performance as a representative of the people was very poor.