#MeToo Bites Kerala Communists: Shoranur MLA P K Sasi Suspended From Party Membership Over Sexual Abuse Allegations

The ruling CPI(M) in Kerala today (26 November) suspended its Shoranur MLA, P K Sasi for six months from the party's primary membership, against whom sexual harassment charges were levelled by a woman activist of the Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI), Manorama has reported.

The party in a press release said that Sasi was suspended from its primary membership for six months after it was found that he had conversed with a woman worker "in a manner not befitting a party leader."

A two-member party appointed commission, comprising law minister, A K Balan, and Kannur MP and central committee member P K Sreemathy, was appointed to probe the allegations. The phone conversation the legislator had with the complainant was presented as the key evidence.

The report stated that while Sasi had not sexually assaulted the complainant he had conversed with her inappropriately.

A defiant Sasi, who had earlier dismissed the allegation against him saying it was a "well planned conspiracy" later agreed that he would accept any decision the party leadership took against him.

The DYFI activist had alleged that she was sexually harassed by Sasi and complained to CPI(M) central leadership after the state leadership failed to respond.