Thiruvananthapuram: CPM state committee on Friday deferred the decision on P.K. Sasi in connection with the allegations of sexual harassment.
The decision on disciplinary action against Shoranur MLA was deferred to November 26 state committee meeting. Sasi is currently heading party jatha in Palakkad which will conclude on November 25.
The party is not keen on taking action against Sasi in the midst of the campaign. The party inquiry commission which went into the allegations of sexual harassment raised by DYFI leader against the MLA, had found the legislator of misconduct. However, the panel was of the view that the offence did not amount to sexual harassment hence the degree of disciplinary action could be less.
The party had earlier decided to take up the matter in Friday’s meeting following widespread criticism against leadership's failure to initiate action against the MLA. The party was also keen to resolve the matter before Assembly session which is scheduled to begin from November 27.
The CPM is likely to take action on Novem-ber 26 meeting as it does not want to give an opportunity to the opposition UDF to put the government in the dock. Since the allegations are against a sitting MLA, it will be difficult to defend the opposition attack on the floor of the House.
The DYFI leader who had submitted the complaint to the party leadership three months ago was forced to take up the matter with central committee recently because of the delay. Though the issue also figured during the DYFI state conference which concluded in Kozhikode on Wednesday, the leadership declined to give any concrete explanation citing the ongoing party commission probe.
Sources said in the event of the inquiry commission finding him guilty, the subsequent disciplinary action could land the MLA who is currently district secretariat member, either in local committee or branch committee.
