Indicating that the leadership would take a stern stand on the allegations against Jayarajan, Sitaram Yechury said the nature of action would be decided by the Central Committee. New Delhi: A clean chit from the court will not clear the path for E. P. Jayarajan, who quit over nepotism charges, to return to ministerial office, the CPM central leadership indicated on Saturday.
As Jayarajan’s involvement in appointing his kin to key positions in public sector undertakings was as clear as daylight, it was a collective decision by the party leadership to force him to step down.
Kerala industries minister EP Jayarajan resigns
Procedural technicalities in the Prevention of Corruption Act (PCA) will not be taken into account to offer him any kind of reprieve, they said.
According to them, a section of leaders in the party’s top decision-making bodies has demanded the national leadership to initiate stringent disciplinary action against Jayarajan’s sister-in-law and fellow central committee member P. K. Sreemathi as well.
Foot in mouth a routine chore for outspoken Jayarajan
P. K. Sudheer, whom Jayarajan had appointed as Managing Director of the Kerala State Industrial Enterprises, is her son.
When she was a minister in the Achuthanandan-led cabinet, Sreemathi had triggered a controversy by appointing her daughter-in-law in her personal staff. Now, with the controversial appointment of her son to a top post, she has dented the image of the party and the government further, a leader said.
Rule by kinship: A press note which landed Jayarajan in the soup
Indicating that the party leadership would take a stern stand on the allegations of nepotism against Jayarajan, CPM general secretary Sitaram Yechury said the nature of action would be decided by the Central Committee.
Yechury, who is expected to arrive at Alappuzha on October 19, will hold talks with party state secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan, sources said.
