KOZHIKODE: Transport minister A.K. Saseendran resigned from the Pinarayi Vijayan ministry on Sunday hours after a Malayalam channel aired an audio clip allegedly involving his lewd talk with a woman. A nominee of the Nationalist Congress Party, the minister announced his decision to step down at a press conference, but denied the charge that he talked inappropriately with a woman over phone and claimed he resigned on moral grounds.
“I have not heard the audio clip, but I have not talked in an immoral manner with any woman,” he said in reply to a question if the voice in the audio clip was indeed his. “A thorough inquiry will reveal the truth and a probe by any agency is welcome. I personally felt it would be inappropriate to hang on to my ministry during a probe.” The channel aired the audio in which a man is heard, but the voice at the other end was not audible. When the media insisted on knowing why he was relinquishing his post when he was dismissing the charge and there was no complaint, Mr Saseendran said that he didn't want to become a burden on the government and his party.
Mr Saseendran, who represents Elathur in Kozhikode district in the Assembly, said he contacted Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and NCP state president Uzhavoor Vijayan by noon. “The Chief Minister did not demand my resignation,” he said. “He asked me to take an appropriate decision.” Mr Saseendran added that he was unaware of any conspiracy or manipulation in the entire episode. "That will be unravelled in the inquiry," he said. When asked why ethics was confined to his being a minister and not his MLA status, Mr Saseendran replied, "Let us see."
Meanwhile, in Thiruvananthapuram, the Chief Minister said that the matter would be looked into. "We will take appropriate decision after looking into the issues. The version of the one facing the allegation also needs to be considered," he said. Mr Vijayan denied reports in a section of media that the CPM state Secretariat had stopped abruptly owing to the allegation. "We dispersed in at noon for lunch," he quipped.
