Kerala CPM strongman Jayarajan removed as LDF convener over meeting with Javadekar

The CPM leadership in Kerala on Saturday sacked senior politician EP Jayarajan from his important post as chairman of the ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF). Earlier, it had come to light that Jayarajan had held an undisclosed meeting with the BJP politician in charge of the state, Prakash Javadekar, in the run-up to the Lok Sabha elections.

However, the CPI-M leadership in Kerala decided that actor and MP M. Mukesh, who is accused of sexual assault, would not have to leave the assembly.

The state party secretary MV Govindan argued that many MPs and lawmakers accused of misbehaviour with women have not resigned. This decision amounted to a rejection of CPI-M Politburo member Brinda Karat's demand for Mukesh's resignation as MP. Mukesh, however, will be dismissed from the less important state body for cinema policy.

The decision to take disciplinary action against Jayarajan was taken by the CPI-M state secretariat at a meeting on Friday and the party's state committee relieved him of his post as LDF chairman on Saturday. Jayarajan, a member of the CPI-M central committee, is considered one of the most important party leaders in the country and was a close ally of Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan. Another senior politician, TP Ramakrishnan, will be the next LDF chairman.

The revelation of the meeting between Jayarajan and Javadekar, reportedly arranged by an intermediary at the CPI-M leader's son's house in Thiruvananthapuram, had embarrassed the CPI-M and the LDF during the Lok Sabha elections earlier this year, as it brought accusations of CPI-M-BJP nexus to the Congress. To make matters worse, Jayarajan publicly admitted his meeting with Javadekar on the very day that Kerala was going to the LS polls, though he described it as an unscheduled courtesy visit by the BJP leader. All this happened amid persistent rumours in political circles that Jayarajan's relationship with the CPI-M leadership had become complicated for a number of reasons, including his being passed over for the top post of CPI-M state secretary in Kerala.

While Jayarajan chose to stay away from the party committee meeting that went against him, his next political move and goal is being closely watched by political circles. The Congress leadership in Kerala said the action against Jayarajan only confirms the party's allegation of nexus between many CPIM and BJP leaders.