‘Obscene’ phone talk: Kerala minister quits

In a huge embarrassment to the CPI(M)-led Left Democratic Front government in Kerala, transport minister AK Saseendran of the NCP resigned after allegations of misconduct with a woman. “I am resigning to uphold the integrity of my party,” he said.

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: In huge embarrassment for the CPI(M)-led Left Democratic Front government in Kerala, transport minister AK Saseendran resigned on Sunday after allegations of misconduct with a woman surfaced against him.

A new Malayalam news channel named Mangalam, which launched on Sunday, claimed that a clip it aired on the channel earlier in the day was a phone conversation between a woman and the minister, in which 71-year-old Saseendran is heard talking in a sexually explicit way.

The woman had reportedly approached the minister for some favour. Ironically, the incident surfaced at a time when the state is debating growing atrocities against women and children.

Saseendran insisted he had done nothing wrong. “I don’t remember talking to anyone in such a manner. I will come out unscathed. I am resigning from the ministry to uphold the integrity of my party and coalition,” the minister said.

He added that he had asked chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan to order a high-level probe into the incident.

As soon the channel aired the audio clip, Opposition Congress and BJP sought the minister’s resignation. However, the woman with whom the minister allegedly spoke has not filed any compliant against him.

The five-time legislator started his political career with the Congress but later switched his loyalty to Sharad Pawar’s party.

The NCP which is part of LDF in Kerala, has two legislators.

Saseendran is the second minister to quit the 10-month-old Pinarayi ministry.