Kerala’s CPI-M has decisively acted against internal rebellion by expelling former Palakkad MLA PK Sasi on Thursday, mere moments after he headlined a dissident workers’ conference in the district. This dramatic ouster underscores deepening fractures within the party’s organizational machinery.
Sasi’s fallout began in 2021 when party bosses overlooked him for an election ticket, igniting fury among his loyalists. Relations soured further despite a reconciliatory nod as Kerala Tourism Development Corporation head—a role he abruptly quit recently, hinting at irreconcilable differences.
Thursday’s Palakkad meeting united vocal critics who lambasted district bosses. Sasi’s fiery speech prompted an immediate response from the state secretariat, which branded his actions a blatant violation of cadre discipline and stripped him of membership rights.
Sources close to the leadership emphasized that public dissent at such forums erodes party unity. Sasi framed the conclave as an inevitable assembly of principled comrades pushed to the brink.
The development revives memories of past controversies, with opposition chief VD Satheesan noting CPI-M’s prior exoneration of Sasi in ethical lapse allegations. Palakkad, long a left bastion clinching 10 assembly seats in 2021, now grapples with rising unrest following local election setbacks.
With dissident voices gaining traction, CPI-M faces a critical test in maintaining its grip ahead of future polls. The Sasi saga signals potential broader challenges for the Pinarayi Vijayan-led government’s ideological bedrock.