Even when it is struggling to find a way out of the trap some of its Ministers and top leaders have created for itself by appointing close relatives in key positions in Government corporations and other sectors, the Kerala CPI(M) seems to be unwilling to examine the hard options available to it – like asking Industries Minister EP Jayarajan, who had brought maximum disrepute to the Government and the party in this respect, to resign from the Cabinet or expelling him.
The Marxist party, leading the ruling lDF, has to take a final decision on how to get out of this trap at the meeting of its State secretariat to be held on Friday. However, it is unlikely to ask Jayarajan to resign from the Cabinet, according to sources in the party who also said that the secretariat would take “some harsh decisions”.
The party’s central leadership, which has concluded that the nepotism row is capable of seriously damaging the organisation’s image, has asked the State unit to settle the issue at the earliest though it has not been able to suggest any solution. “The central leaders will for the time being observe what steps the State leadership is taking,” said a former central committee member.
The central leadership has taken a position that clear guidelines on steps to be taken when confronted with issues like this are available to the State units. According to sources in the central committee, nobody in the leadership has put forward any suggestion for the expulsion of Jayarajan from the Kerala Cabinet.
The CPI(M) has to somehow settle the issue at the earliest as the State Assembly, which was adjourned on October 5 due to Opposition protests over the issue of fee hike in self-financing medical colleges, is resuming session on Monday. The Congress-led Opposition UDF, which had stalled the House proceedings for eight continuous days over the medical fees issue, is sure to use the nepotism row to hit out at the Government.
The nepotism controversy had erupted a few days ago following reports on the appointment of Sudheer Nambiar, son of PK Sreemathy, a CPI(M) central committee (CC) member and sister of the wife of Jayarajan, another CC member, as managing director of the Kerala Industrial Enterprises limited which came under the Department of Industries.
It was also revealed that at least three other close relatives of Jayarajan had got jobs in public enterprises since the lDF came to power in May last. Sudheer Nambiar’s appointment was later revoked but that step has failed to end the protests from the party, the lDF and the general public. Moreover, relatives of several other leaders – including Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan – had got prime positions under the Government.
According to CPI(M) sources, the party cannot even think of sacking Jayarajan or of asking him to resign from the Government that has not yet completed five months in office. Taking such an action at this juncture would be suicidal for the party and the left as it is sure to make the Opposition’s position immensely strong, they said. But the Opposition on Tuesday reiterated that it would be satisfied with nothing less than Jayarajan’s resignation or expulsion.
“The CPI(M) leaders know that there is no easy way out of this trap. As far as I know the CPI(M) is planning to censure Jayarajan strictly and cancel all the controversial appointments as was done in the case of Sudheer Nambiar. But I am not sure whether such a step will be enough to put the whole issue to rest,” said a senior journalist with a pro-left newspaper.
Observers are of the opinion that the CPI(M) does not have time to devise a strategy to get out of the trap as the Vigilance may soon take a decision on the demand of the Congress and the BJP for a thorough probe. Also, the BJP is likely to approach the court this week itself. Above all, the issue has created divisions within the ruling front with the CPI, its second biggest partner, demanding action that is “capable of cutting the roots of the controversy”.