Palakkad (Kerala), March 6 CPI(M) district secretary E N Suresh Babu said on Friday that he was considering legal action against expelled party leader P K Sasi for accusing him of involvement in liquor smuggling.
Former MLA Sasi had alleged on Thursday that a key accused in a liquor smuggling case had been promoted to the party's district leadership, apparently referring to Babu.
Following his remarks, Sasi was expelled from the ruling Left party.
On Friday, Babu, speaking to reporters here, said that he would discuss the matter with the CPI(M) leadership and initiate legal action against Sasi.
He further stated that individuals have no importance in communist parties, especially the CPI(M), and that no one is above the organization.
Babu said that if Sasi has evidence to support his allegations, he should reveal it.
"I am not afraid," he added.
Babu also said that he would not respond to every allegation made by a person who had been expelled from the party.
Sasi, the former MLA from Shornur, was demoted from the district committee to the branch level in 2024 and had been critical of the party leadership in the district during the last local body elections.
Meanwhile, senior CPI(M) leader N N Krishnadas said that expelled Sasi was among the leaders who had received more opportunities than any other leader in the district.
Krishnadas, a former CPI(M) MP from Palakkad, said that Sasi may have different opinions, but the party has its own system and traditions.
"Sasi is one of the leaders who received the most opportunities from the party. I don't think there is any other leader from Palakkad who received such consideration, love, and encouragement from the party," he claimed.
Krishnadas said that Sasi might have his complaints, but the party functions according to its traditions and methods.
"Maybe because of getting too much consideration, Sasi turned against the party," he said.
He said he had worked in the party state committee under various leaders and had never felt any change in the party's working style when the leadership changed.
"The party has a tradition of considering opinions and criticism emerging from within itself. Using that tradition, attempts are made to resolve issues. Some may not be convinced about it, but they still obey the party rules and function as Communists," he said.
Responding to a question about around 100 people joining the dissident group led by Sasi, Krishnadas said that since the party's formation in Kerala, several people had left it at different times.
"But history shows that many of those defectors returned to the party. After emotions calm down, they realize the politics and return. Such situations are not new to the party," he said.
He said that the CPI(M) state committee meeting held in Thiruvananthapuram on Thursday had decided that the Left Front should use all its strength to retain power in the state.
Krishnadas said that Kerala is the only state where the Left is in power and without a Communist government, the state would be like "a sky without the sun".