Tension gripped Kerala’s ruling CPI-M as it expelled ex-MLA PK Sasi from primary membership on Thursday, hot on the heels of his appearance at a contentious dissident meet in Palakkad. The rapid-fire decision highlights the party’s zero-tolerance stance on rebellion.
A seasoned politician from Palakkad, Sasi’s grievances trace back to the 2021 polls where he was denied renomination, alienating his support base and souring top-level relations. A brief olive branch via the tourism corporation chairmanship failed to mend fences; his resignation last month set the stage for this showdown.
The trigger was a Palakkad rally of unhappy cadres where Sasi unleashed criticism against local leaders. The state apparatus reacted within 60 minutes, deeming it a severe disciplinary infraction.
Insider accounts point to the leadership’s resolve to quash factionalism that threatens cohesion. Sasi portrayed the event as a dignified stand by revolutionaries under duress.
Adding fuel, opposition’s VD Satheesan highlighted CPI-M’s earlier whitewash of Sasi’s moral allegations. In Palakkad—a district of 12 seats where CPI-M dominated 2021 elections but faltered in recent locals—dissent is simmering louder.
This purge amid organizational woes raises alarms for CPI-M’s electoral fortress. As Palakkad boils, the party must navigate these internal storms to safeguard its dominance in upcoming battles.