CM Pinarayi Vijayan’s public censure of EP Jayarajan, a sign of a looming shake-up?

Also read : Cong seeks explanation from CPI(M) over party convener EP Jayarajan’s meeting with Prakash Javadekar

‘Jayarajan not shown cautiousness’

It was while responding to questions on allegations against Jayarajan, especially his plan to join the BJP, that the chief minister openly criticized the LDF convener.

“Everyone knows Jayarajan’s nature. He maintains a friendship with everyone. But there is an old saying: If Lord Shiva joins a sinner, he would become a sinner too,” Vijayan had said.

“Care should be taken in friendships you keep. There are people here who get up from the bed asking whom we should deceive today. Friendship and acquaintance with such persons should be avoided. Unfortunately, going by the past incidents, Jayarajan has not shown cautious behavior in such matters,” he further said.

The public nature of the censure has drawn considerable attention, with many political analysts and party insiders speculating about its implications.

Also read : LS polls: Tensions run high in Kerala over Jayarajan family’s alleged biz links with Chandrasekhar

Will it prove costly?

Sources within the CPM suggest that the public censuring of Jayarajan could potentially signal a rift within the party or dissatisfaction with the links he maintains, especially, with people having dubious pasts.

Rumours abound that Jayarajan may face further consequences, including the possibility of being stripped of his convener post.

It is also said that, with the CPM state secretariat scheduled to convene on Monday to discuss the election scenario, the repercussions of this public censure are likely to reverberate within it as well.

The public nature of the rebuke has fuelled speculation about the underlying reasons behind the chief minister’s decision to air grievances against Jayarajan in such a manner.

Political observers note that the public reprimand of a senior party leader like Jayarajan by Vijayan is highly unusual and indicative of deeper tensions or disagreements within the party leadership.

Also Read: Left rattled by allegations of CPI(M) veteran’s plans to join BJP

Allegations amid election stir

It was BJP leader Sobha Surendran, who fired a salvo at CPI(M) by revealing the alleged bid made to take Jayarajan into the saffron party fold. Then came the allegation from TG Nandakumar aka Dallal Nandakumar, a middleman in politics.

As Jayarajan’s meeting with BJP leader Prakash Javadekar set off a controversy a day before the elections, the former on election day told the media that he had met Javadekar at his son’s flat but no politics was discussed.

At the same time, KPCC president K Sudhakaran had asked if a person would go and visit anyone without any relation.

Criticizing the chief minister’s statement that there was nothing wrong in meeting Javadekar, Leader of the Opposition VD Satheesan asked whether Jayarajan had visited Javadekar with the permission of the chief minister.

It remains to be seen whether the public censure will prompt clarifications from both Jayarajan and the CPM leadership or result in tangible consequences for Jayarajan.

(Edited by Shauqueen Mizaj)