Kannur, March 30(BPNS)
The state industries minister and CPM central committee member ,EP Jayarajan has announced his retirement from electoral politics. He was speaking to media persons at Kannur press club on Tuesday.
The senior CPM leader who is considered as the number 2 in the state cabinet was sidelined and state health minister KK Shailaja was replaced at his Mattanur seat. Jayarajan had expressed his willingness to contest from the red bastion of Kalliasery in Kannur district but that was also denied.
Jayarajan while speaking to media persons said,” I have put an end to electoral politics. I am old now and health is not as good with diseases cropping up.”
When asked that Chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan who is much older to him was contesting the polls, the senior leader quipped ,” Please don’t compare me to him. He is a different person with a high energy level and has the will to do for the people of the state.”
There are however rumours that Jayarajan may replace Kodiyeri Balakrishnan as the state secretary of the CPM. Kodiyeri is now on leave from the party following detection of cancer and is under treatment and rest. CPM central committee member and LDF convenor ,A Vijayaraghavan is donning the role of party acting secretary presently.
The CPM has done a major course correction in the 2021 polls by denying tickets to senior leaders including five ministers and Speaker of the assembly P Sreeramakrishnan implementing that they have completed two consecutive terms as legislators.
State finance minister Dr TM Thomas Issac, PWD minister G Sudhakaran, Education minister C Raveendranath, Industries minister EP Jayarajan and Law minister AK Balan had lost out after this norms was strictly implemented in the party. The Speaker , P Sreeramakrishnan who is under shade after allegations from the Gold smuggling accused Swapna Prabha Suresh was also kept out of the CPM list of candidates.
CPM if it does not get a continuous second term will face dissidence with the rebels led by Kannur strongman, P Jayarajan likely to come out against the authoritarian style of functioning of the Chief minister Pinarayai Vijayan who has just fallen short of the mantra.” I am the state or literally translated, “I am the party, the government and the state”.
