There is no end to the crisis in CPN-SP

Forest Minister and Nationalist Congress Party (Sharad Pawar) (NCP-SP) leader AK Sasendran has said that he has no qualms about stepping down if an NCP-SP leader is given a seat in the state cabinet.

“If that happens, we (NCP-SP) will be without a minister. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan had earlier discussed the matter with us and expressed his reservations about my replacement. This was also conveyed to Mr. Pawar,” he said Hindu on the phone

Mr. Sasendran also accused his party president PC Chacko of mobilizing leaders against him even though he knew well that Mr. Vijayan was against the idea. However, he had no knowledge of what transpired in the recent meeting between Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPI(M)) Politburo member and interim convenor Prakash Karat and Mr. Pawar, he said.

“I have only two concerns: First, the NCP-SP should be represented in the state cabinet. Second, the party should remain on the Left Front,” said Mr. Sasendran.

Kuttanad NCP-SP MLA Thomas K. Thomas staked claim to the post and demanded that Mr Sasendran resign to make way for him in the Cabinet.

Asked about the issue on Friday, CPI(M) state secretary MV Govindan said he had not heard anything from the party’s central leadership in discussions with Mr Pawar.

“The NCP-SP is an ally of the old Left Front. Its ideology matters, not individual-specific decisions,” Mr. Govindan said.