Thiruvananthapuram, Jan. 22 -- Kerala's minister for cultural affairs and senior CPI(M) leader Saji Cherian on Wednesday apologised and withdrew his remarks about alleged communal polarisation in the state's two northern districts in the recent local body polls.

Cherian, who was once forced out of the state cabinet for his disparaging remarks about the Indian Constitution, had kicked up a major political row earlier this week when he stated that communal polarisation was evident in the recent elections if one examined the names of those who won in Kasaragod municipality and Malappuram district panchayat. While Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) and the BJP won 22 and 12 seats respectively in Kasaragod municipality, the CPI(M), which he cl...