An audio clip of actor-turned-MLA KB Ganesh Kumar allegedly criticising the four women actors who resigned from the artistes' body AMMA and making a veiled attack on politicians supporting them surfaced on Saturday.
Mathrubhumi News aired two audio messages that Ganesh Kumar purportedly sent to AMMA General Secretary Idavela Babu, in which he termed the four women actors who quit from AMMA as "trouble-makers".
The Pathanapuram MLA can be heard calling the politicians "limelight hoggers" and the four actors as "perennial trouble-makers".
In the clip, Ganesh allegedly advises Babu to "just keep silent" as the outburst over the revoking of Dileep's suspension in AMMA will die down in two days.
"These four actors have never been active in AMMA, nor in the field of acting. They never participated in the AMMA shows and are perennial trouble-makers," Ganesh reportedly said.
Ironically, Ganesh Kumar, despite being an MLA of the ruling government, also allegedly took a dig at politicians. This, even as leaders including minister Thomas Isaac and Brinda Karat criticised AMMA's move to re-induct actor Dileep.
"With regards to politicians, they are interested to give sound bytes to TV channels just to stay afloat in public domain. You just keep quiet and need not respond. The media is out to create a ruckus and the only thing they have is negativity in their news. What should be noted is AMMA is not a political body, but formed to look after our welfare and hence the public also need not be unduly concerned," said the person in the clip.
According to reports, Ganesh Kumar has admitted that the leaked audio is legitimate.
"There are efforts to destroy AMMA, that's why I was forced to share my view. This audio clip has leaked from within AMMA and we need to investigate who is behind this," Ganesh Kumar was quoted as saying.
The audio clip has come a day after the CPI (M) decided not to seek an explanation from any of its members including sitting MLA Mukesh, MP Innocent and MLA Ganesh Kumar, all of whom hold important positions in the body
Leading actors from the Malayalam film industry Rima Kallingal, Ramya Nambessan, Geetu Mohandas and the survivor had resigned from AMMA on Monday, after Dileep was reinstated.
Dileep was removed from AMMA last year but on June 24, at the annual general body meeting of AMMA, the new set of office bearers led by actor Mohanlal revoked his removal.
Since then there has been a huge outcry from several quarters against this decision.
(With inputs from IANS)