Expelled Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI(M)] leader P. K. Sasi will contest from the Ottapalam Assembly seat as an Independent candidate with the backing of the United Democratic Front (UDF) after the Congress decided not to allot him its ‘hand’ symbol.

The UDF had initially planned to field Mr. Sasi on the Congress symbol, and campaign materials featuring the ‘hand’ had already been widely put up across the constituency. However, the Congress leadership withheld the symbol following objections from a section of local party leaders. Though Mr. Sasi was asked to formally join the Congress to resolve the issue, he declined, prompting the decision to contest as an Independent. The hoardings and posters will be replaced.

Mr. Sasi was recently expelled from the CPI(M) after he publicly criticised its State and district leaderships. Reacting to the action, he said the party had every right to expel him, adding that while his long association with the CPI(M) had ended, his political struggle would continue.

He also said he would expose “wrongdoers” before the public. Targeting State secretary M.V. Govindan, Mr. Sasi remarked that a significant vacuum had emerged in the party following the death of former State secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan. He also alleged that district secretary E.N. Suresh Babu was part of a liquor lobby, a charge that Mr. Babu said he would legally challenge.