A formal complaint seeking a criminal case against former Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI-M] Palakkad district Secretary E.N. Suresh Babu over allegations of sexual harassment has sharpened political pressure on the party's top leadership in Kerala, with Leader of Opposition Pinarayi Vijayan's refusal to comment drawing particular scrutiny. The complaint was filed on Tuesday, 6 October 2026, in Thiruvananthapuram.

The Complaint and What It Seeks

State Congress Secretary John Daniel on Tuesday submitted a formal complaint to Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan, demanding registration of a criminal case against Suresh Babu. Significantly, the complaint also names Vijayan and CPI-M state Secretary M.V. Govindan as accused, alleging that both leaders were aware of the serious allegations but chose to conceal them and limit the matter to internal party proceedings rather than refer it to the police.

Daniel said the case was especially grave because it concerned the safety of women in public life, and called for a full police investigation and stringent action against Suresh Babu.

What the Allegations Involve

According to reports, a young woman lawyer approached the CPI-M leadership with allegations of sexual harassment by Suresh Babu. She is understood to have submitted digital evidence in support of her complaint. The woman has reportedly alleged that Suresh Babu subsequently continued to contact and harass her even after the complaint was filed. The CPI-M leadership is said to have initially sought to address the matter internally, raising questions about whether the party had attempted to suppress the complaint.

The party has not officially stated whether Suresh Babu's removal as Palakkad district Secretary was linked to the harassment allegations — a silence that critics argue speaks for itself.

Party Leaders Dodge Questions

On Tuesday, Vijayan declined to respond when reporters sought his reaction. Senior party leaders K.K. Shailaja, E.P. Jayarajan, M.V. Jayarajan, V.N. Vasavan, and Thomas Isaac also avoided giving clear answers. Isaac said he was unaware of the details of the Palakkad matter and was focused on Pathanamthitta.

Jayarajan, however, defended the party's handling of the issue, describing the action taken as organisational in nature and accusing the media of manufacturing stories to attack the CPI-M. His remarks were notably at odds with the broader demand for police accountability.

The Political Tit-for-Tat

The controversy has also ignited a charged political exchange involving former Congress MLA Rahul Mamkootathil, who himself faced sexual misconduct allegations last year and was subsequently expelled from the party. Mamkootathil attacked Suresh Babu in a social media post, claiming that a young woman lawyer was summoned to a party office under the pretext of discussing a case and was sexually assaulted there. He further alleged that the complaint eventually reached the CPI-M's top leadership through a woman leader and that efforts were made to resolve the matter quietly.

The political context of Mamkootathil's attack is not lost on observers: Suresh Babu had been among those who publicly criticised Mamkootathil when the latter faced misconduct allegations. Mamkootathil has now questioned Suresh Babu's moral authority to lecture on ethics while facing similar charges himself.

What Happens Next

The CPI-M finds itself in an increasingly difficult position as the allegations gain wider public traction. With a formal complaint now before the Chief Minister, pressure for a police investigation is mounting. The party's continued silence on the precise reasons behind Suresh Babu's removal — and its apparent reluctance to hand the matter to law enforcement — risks deepening the political damage in a state where the party has long projected itself as a champion of women's rights.