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Setback for CPI(M), Kerala industry minister quits over appointments row
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Mired in a raging nepotism row, Kerala industry minister E P Jayarajan quit the Left front government on Friday, invalidating his number-two
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Mired in a raging nepotism row, Kerala industry minister E P Jayarajan quit the Left front government on Friday, invalidating his number-two rank in the state cabinet.
Even as the CPI(M)-led regime sought to portray the resignation as a case of its electoral promise of clean administration, Jayarajan’s instances of favouritism gave a setback to the four-month-old Pinarayi Vijayan administration that rode to power citing the “misdeeds” of the previous UDF government.
CPI(M) state secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan, announcing Jayarajan’s resignation on Friday, said the outgoing minister admitted his lapses and offered to quit. “Jayarajan has upheld the integrity of government and the party with his timely action,” he told a press conference. “This clearly shows our party is different from others.”
There was no comment from 66-year-old Jayarajan, who is the legislator from Mattannur constituency in upstate Kannur district — a traditional Marxist bastion.
The minister landed the government in big trouble recently by appointing two of his close relatives to key positions of state-owned enterprises. Though the placements were cancelled, it embarrassed the government and ruling party.
A fortnight ago, Jayarajan appointed his nephew Sudhir Nambiar as the MD of the Kerala State Industrial Enterprises and niece Deepti Nishad, a graduate, as the general manager of Clays and Ceramics Products Limited.
The matter snowballed into a controversy, prompting the CM to disown the controversial appointments. While Vijayan said experienced and qualifiedpeople will be appointed to such posts, party general secretary Sitaram Yechury hinted at corrective steps. This Wednesday, his party asked Jayarajan to submit a list of appointments that had taken place in his ministry, forcing him to offer resignation the next day.
This is not the first time the minister, considered close to the CM, is courting trouble.
When distraught ex-athlete Anju Bobby George quit as president of the Kerala Sports Council in June, the minister cited the appointment of her brother in the sports council and said the new government will not tolerate nepotism. Recently, many trolled the minister on social media citing his remark and his own actions that followed the statement.
Similarly, he is known for his foot-in-mouth comments, punched himself in the nose on June 3 when former boxing legend Muhammad Ali died and a TV channel sought his comments. He told the media house that the athlete had earned fame for Kerala by brining Olympic medals. Incidentally, he also held the sports portfolio then.
