KOZHIKODE: Minister AK Saseendran has levelled allegations against NCP state president PC Chacko at a time when discussions are on for a ministerial change. Saseendran said that he was not a leader who would cling to the ministerial post and PC Chacko has made statements that violated the party discipline. It was Chacko's statement that it has been decided to remove Saseendran from the minister's post that angered Saseendran.

"I have not shared any objection to the change of ministerial post on any platform. It was the state president who said that Saseendran was the party's five-year minister." Saseendran told Kerala Kaumudi.

"Even in my discussions with All India President Sharad Pawar, I did not say that I will not give up my ministerial post. Following Sharad Pawar's suggestion, the party president and two MLAs in Kerala decided to meet the chief minister. Meanwhile, PC Chacko made a statement that Saseendran has been replaced. On September 20, a meeting of Kerala leaders was held in Mumbai under the leadership of Sharad Pawar. Party president PC Chacko, Thomas K. Thomas and I attended that meeting. The main demand raised in the meeting was to give Thomas K. Thomas a chance. I did not object to it. I and the party president had earlier spoken to the chief minister in this regard and the chief minister had shared some concerns. It was then that Sharad Pawar suggested that the trio should meet the chief minister on the 3rd, present a ministerial change and inform him of his decision. He said that if the need arises, he will talk to the CPM central leadership and then inform of the final decision on the ministerial change. It was then that Chacko made a statement on his own that the central leadership has decided to replace Saseendran with Thomas as a minister. It was not consulted with party leaders or executive committees. If the party's all-India leadership takes a decision, everyone is bound to obey. However, in Kerala, the party leaders and cadres are just spectators. If everything is decided independently, there is no need for a party. I became a minister as per the instructions of the party. I have no objection to stepping aside if the party says so. However, it should be as per the central leadership's instructions," Saseendran said. AK Saseendran, who is now the forest minister, has been a minister since the days of the first Pinarayi government.