LDF will discuss NCP's demand on reinduction of Saseendran as minister: Vaikom Viswan

Leaders of the CPM-led ruling LDF will discuss the NCP's demand that party's nominee A K Saseendran be reinducted as minister in the Pinarayi Vijayan-led government, Front convener Vaikom Viswan said. He said a decision on the matter will be taken soon.

NCP state president T P Peethambaran Master met Viswan here, a day after Pinarayi said there were no obstacles for Saseendran for becoming the minister after the Judicial Commission cleared his name in a sleaze audio case. Saseendran, former transport minister, had resigned in the wake of sleaze talk allegations against him.

Viswan said Master informed him that the NCP had taken a decision that Saseendran be made minister if his name is cleared in the case. He has demanded that the NCP decision be implemented in wake of the judicial commission report.

"The matter will be discussed with other partners in the LDF.A decision on the issue will be taken soon after holding talks with leaders of LDF partners," Viswan said.

"There are no hurdles for him to become a minister," Master told reporters after meeting Viswan. In its report, the Justice P S Antony Commission constituted to probe the allegations against Saseendran, had stated that it could not ascertain the authenticity of the purported voice clip of the former minister conversing with a woman, which was aired by a local television channel in March last year.

According to the commission report, it was not Saseendran who had committed the crime, but the channel which had aired it.

The NCP has two MLAs in the state assembly. Following Saseendran's resignation, Thomas Chandy of the NCP made his entry into the cabinet as Transport minister. But he too was forced to resign on encroachment allegations after the Kerala High court made stinging observations against him.

Meanwhile, Leader of Opposition in the Kerala Assembly, Ramesh Chennithala flayed the LDF move to reinduct Saseendran, saying the ruling front has lost the right to preach moral values in politics. 

"It is equal to insulting the people of the state," he said.