Thiruvananthapuram, July 2 (IANS) P. Sasi, a senior Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) member in Kerala, was expelled from the party on grounds of moral turpitude, a party leader said Saturday.

 
 During 1996-2001, Sasi was the powerful political secretary to E.K. Nayanar, the then chief minister of the state.
 
 Sasi had to step down as the Kannur district secretary early this year following complaints of misbehaviour with women, including with the daughter of a top CPI-M leader and wife of a youth leader.
 
 A special commission appointed by the party inquired into the allegations.
 
 The CPI-M leader said the decision to expel Sasi from the party  was taken after going through the commission's report.
 
 Sasi belongs to the strong Kannur faction of the party and is considered close to state party secretary Pinnarayi Vijayan, an arch rival of former chief minister V.S. Achuthanandan.
 
 The decision to oust Sasi was taken at the party's two-day state committee meeting that ended Saturday.
 
 Vijayan did not hold the customary press conference after the committee meeting and issued a press release. The statement made no mention of Sasi's expulsion.
 
 Later, a senior party leader, who took part in the meeting, told IANS that Sasi has been ousted from the party.
 
 "Now this decision would be conveyed to the central committee of the party," he said.
 
 Reacting to the reports, Sasi said: "All that I have heard is from the TV channels. I will abide by my party's decision irrespective of what it is. I will prove my innocence within the rules of the party."