NCP Minister A K Saseendran Refuses to Resign Amid Dispute Over Cabinet Position

Thiruvananthapuram, 20th December 2024: NCP minister A K Saseendran stated that Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan is not interested in replacing him with party MLA Thomas K Thomas in the cabinet. Saseendran also made it clear that he is unwilling to resign, as suggested by party state president P C Chacko if the CM does not agree to include Thomas.

“The chief minister has firmly expressed his reservations about making Thomas a minister. This was conveyed twice when both Thomas and I met him,” Saseendran said.

He further explained that he had informed NCP national leader Sharad Pawar about the situation. “I told Pawar that NCP would have no representation in the cabinet if I stepped down,” he added. Saseendran emphasized that while he is open to resigning if the chief minister agrees to make Thomas a minister, he is unwilling to accept the decision from the party president that he must quit if the CM refuses to accommodate Thomas.

“The party president asked me to give Thomas a chance in the government, but I made it clear that I have no issue resigning if the chief minister is willing to accept him,” Saseendran said.

The minister shared that when the media started discussing a possible ministerial change within NCP, the chief minister called for a meeting with the state president and himself. In that meeting, the CM made it clear that if the NCP decided to change its minister, the party would have no representation in the cabinet.

“As a result, I asked Chacko to first secure an assurance from the chief minister instead of focusing on my resignation. I told him I am not willing to step down in protest against the CM, as it would isolate the party within the LDF,” Saseendran concluded.