Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI(M)] Polit Bureau member A. Vijayaraghavan has described expelled leader P.K. Sasi as a betrayer of the party, and said that the loss would be only for him and not for the party.

Mr. Vijayaraghavan was inaugurating a CPI(M) political explanatory meeting held at Mannarkkad on Wednesday. Drawing on iconic characters from Malayalam cinema, Mr. Vijayaraghavan likened Mr. Sasi to Mangalassery Neelakandan while he remains in the party, but to Keeleri Achu once he is out of the party.

CPI(M) leaders who addressed the meeting lashed out at Mr. Sasi. District secretary E.N. Suresh Babu said he had initiated legal proceedings against Mr. Sasi for linking him with the ‘spirit lobby.’

He said that Mr. Sasi had grown wealthy by betraying the party. “Until now, it was better left unsaid; but there is no reason to keep it hidden anymore,” he said, adding that Mr. Sasi will have to regret for deserting the party.

CPI(M) Mannarkkad area former secretary U.T. Ramakrishnan presided over the function. K. Premkumar, MLA, central committee member K.S. Saleekha, P.M. Arsho, K.C. Riyasudheen, and M.K. Narayanan spoke.