Reinstated leaders shifted, KSEB strike to continue in Kerala

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The stand-off between KSEB chairman and managing director B Ashok and the pro-CPM Officers' Association leaders took another turn on Wednesday with the CMD revoking the suspension of the association leaders by transferring them outside Thiruvananthapuram.
The orders regarding the withdrawal of suspension of association president M G Sureshkumar and another office-bearer Jasmin Banu, both executive engineers, were out soon after an online meeting between director board members, other than the CMD, who held talks with the association.The orders regarding the revocation of association general secretary Harikumar's suspension and transfer to new post would be out in a day or two, sources said.

The association leaders said the strike in front of Vydhyuthi Bhavan would continue with renewed vigour as the transfer of association leaders was unacceptable.
While Jasmin has been transferred to Seethathode in Pathanamthitta, the new posting of Sureshkumar is at Perinthalmanna in Malappuram district. Jasmin was suspended from service on charges of alleged unauthorized absence in office. The other two officers were placed under suspension for leading the agitation against the CMD demanding reversal of the suspension of Jasmin.
The reinstatement orders of the executive engineers who had been under suspension run to half a dozen pages. It accuses the officials of violating the company discipline by acting against the interest of KSEBL. It also warned them of further disciplinary action if they refused to mend their ways and act within their limits.
The association leaders had stuck to their allegations against the CMD all through the meeting with the members of the KSEB director board on Wednesday. The CMD did not attend the meeting on the pretext of some prior occupation.
The new twist in the tale is expected to necessitate the direct intervention of power minister K Krishnankutty. However, sources close to the CMD claim that such a chance was very remote as the association would fail to sustain traction for the agitation even after the withdrawal of suspension.