Kerala: Who Is E P Jayarajan, The LDF Convenor At The Centre Of A Storm For Meeting BJP's Prakash Javadekar?

E P Jayarajan, a senior leader of the CPI(M) from Kannur and the convenor of the Left Democratic Front (LDF) has been in the news recently after he admitted to meeting Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) Kerala in-charge Prakash Javadekar, in Thiruvananthapuram last year.

His admission comes days after Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) chief K Sudhakaran alleged that Jayarajan had been wanting to join the BJP.

Jayarajan and others had then stated that this was a ploy to divert attention from Sudhakaran, who too had reportedly tried to join the BJP.

It has also been alleged that the CPI(M) was trying to strike a deal with the BJP regarding Thrissur through Jayarajan.

While Jayarajan has said that there was no such discussion of his joining the BJP or the CPI(M) and the BJP striking a deal to ensure the victory of Suresh Gopi in Thrissur, speculation about the issue continued.

Political observers were anticipating some action against Jayarajan as BJP leader and Alappuzha candidate Sobha Surendran too said that Jayarajan had tried to join the BJP and reached out through T G Nandakumar also known as 'Dallal' Nandakumar, who is considered to be a political power broker.

The CPI(M) has, however, stood by Jayarajan.

While Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said that he should have exercised caution regarding meeting Javadekar, especially in the presence of a political broker like Nandakumar, state secretary M V Govindan said that there was no reason to initiate any disciplinary proceedings and that Jayarajan would continue in his post.

The matter has now taken a legal turn, with Nandakumar announcing that he had filed a complaint against K Sudhakaran, who is the Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) chief and Surendran for criminal conspiracy under IPC section 120 B, as per a report by Onmanorama.

This is not the first instance of Jayarajan putting the party in difficulty in recent times. P Jayarajan, a party leader from Kannur had alleged that E P Jayarajan had illegally acquired 11 acres of land for the Vaidekam resort owned by his family.

According to a political commentator this writer spoke to, E P Jayarajan has connections across parties. Further, he said that Jayarajan and Vijayan are not on the best of terms.

When asked as to what could be the reason for the party deciding not to take action against him, he said it could be because he is too important for the CPI(M) to let go as he knows a lot about the party and Vijayan. The same has now been stated by V D Satheesan, who is the leader of the opposition in the Kerala Assembly.

Jayarajan had served as a minister for industries and sports in the first Pinarayi Vijayan government and was considered by many to be the number two then. He resigned after he was alleged to have appointed his relatives to important posts. He was later reinducted.

Regarding the issue of having a deal with the BJP in Thrissur, he stated that it was unlikely given that both the LDF and the UDF have always wanted to keep the BJP out.

Another political commentator, who is considered close to the BJP and whom this writer spoke too, said that such a deal had not happened.

Asked if Jayarajan could consider starting a new party, owing to his sidelining within the party, he said that the track record of those who started their own parties by leaving the CPI(M) is not good.

"Take for instance, M V Raghavan from Kannur. He was known to be a party strongman and was asked to leave the party because of his differences with the party over inducting outfits like the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) into the LDF. While he did start a party and get elected to the assembly, it is important to note that he had joined the UDF.

"This episode might just be one of those political meetings which just got out of hand," he said before signing off.

While the party as of now has backed Jayarajan, there could be more revelations in the times to come given that Nandakumar has filed a complaint.

Also Read: Why Thrissur May Be BJP's Best Chance Yet To Secure A Lok Sabha MP From Kerala