Top CPI(M) leader in hot seat over 'talks' with BJP
Rumors of a meeting between veteran Communist Party of India (Marxist) leader EP Jayarajan and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Kerala incharge Prakash Javadekar have set political circles abuzz. While the Congress is ecstatic, pointing out that it has always warned about a covert pact between the two parties, the CPI(M) leadership is shaken by the news. Separately, CM Pinarayi Vijayan on Friday issued a warning to Jayarajan—who is also the convenor of the ruling Left Democratic Front—over the alleged meeting.
Surendran had previously hinted at Jayarajan's involvement
Vijayan using a vernacular saying, "If Lord Shiva joins a sinner, Shiva will also become a sinner," indirectly cautioned Jayarajan. The rumor of Jayarajan planning to join the BJP surfaced last Thursday when K Sudhakaran, the Congress state president and Kannur MP, claimed that the CPI(M) leader was preparing to join the BJP and had held discussions with the party. This claim was fueled by BJP leader Sobha Surendran's admission of an alleged attempt to lure Jayarajan into the BJP.
Surendran claims Jayarajan was in talks with BJP
Surendran claimed these discussions took place in Delhi and were arranged by middleman TG Nandakumar. However, Jayarajan dismissed these allegations, stating to the media in Kannur that "everything is an utter lie and no such incident had happened." He did acknowledge on Friday that he briefly met Javadekar at his grandson's birthday celebration in Thiruvananthapuram few months ago. "He wanted to discuss political matters with me, but I declined," said Jayarajan.
Congress-led UDF won in 2019 Lok Sabha election
The Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) is looking to repeat its 2019 Lok Sabha victory in Kerala, where it won 19 of 20 seats. The Congress won 15 seats, with its allies the Indian Union Muslim League winning two, the Revolutionary Socialist Party winning one, and the Kerala Congress (M) winning one. The CPI(M) took one seat in Alappuzha.
