THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: CPM state secretariat on Friday decided to leave the decision on re-inducting NCP leader A. K. Saseendran in the Cabinet to the LDF state committee. CPM state secretariat which met here at AKG Centre favoured going by the popular sentiment of bringing Mr Saseendran back in the Cabinet following his name being cleared by P. S. Antony commission which probed the phone sex allegations. The secretariat is of the opinion that since the matter concerned a coalition partner, the decision needs to be taken at the LDF state committee which comprises all other constituents as well.
CPM state secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan and his CPI counterpart Kanam Rajendran have already shown green signal to Mr Saseendran's return. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan had stated on Wednesday that nothing stood in the way of Mr Saseendran's return. "There is no obstacle before him to return to the Cabinet. But I cannot take the decision alone. The centres concerned will have to decide on the matter," he pointed out. NCP state president T. P. Peethambaran had discussed Mr Saseendran's induction in the Cabinet with LDF convenor Vaikom Viswan in Kottayam on Wednesday.
After the meeting, NCP leader had expressed satisfaction over the talks and hinted at Mr Saseendran's return. He is also in touch with national president Sharad Pawar. Meanwhile sources said since the withdrawal petition of the woman who had made the telephone call is pending before the High Court, the LDF leadership will await its outcome. The matter is likely to come before the court on Monday.
