E.P. Jayarajan. File photoThiruvananthapuram: The Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau (VACB) in Kerala is likely to order a probe against state industries minister E.P. Jayarajan who is facing allegations of nepotism.
The vigilance top brass is likely to take a decision in this regard when they meet at the VACB's headquarters in Thiruvananthapuram, Manorama News reported on Wednesday.
Vigilance director Jacob Thomas, other top officials and legal advisers will attend the meet. Legal experts have already made it clear that case can be registered against Jayarajan on the basis of the charges.
'CPM in worst crisis'
The CPM-led LDF government in Kerala seems to be facing its worst crisis with the row over appointment of ministerial kins to plum posts in PSUs refusing to die down.
CPM general secretary Sitharam Yechury also indicated that action could be taken against Jayarajan.
"The process of correction of whatever decision has been taken has been initiated. The party state Secretariat will be meeting on October 14 at Thiruvananthapuram," Yechury told reporters in New Delhi.
Asked if any action will be taken, he said "certainly".
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KPCC president V.M. Sudheeran said Jayarajan should either resign or he should be removed from the post. The matter cannot be viewed as an internal issue of the party, he told reporters here.
Congress will take out a march to the assembly on October 17, when the House re-assembles after Pooja holidays, he said. Congress and BJP leaders have also written to Vigilance director seeking action against Jayarajan.
Jayarajan had appointed his nephew P K Sudheer, who is the son of Kannur MP, P K Sreemathy, as the managing director of Kerala State Industrial Enterprises Ltd early this month.
However, when the matter became controversial, the appointment was cancelled by the government.
Deepthi Nishad, another close relative of Jayarajan, on Wednesday resigned as the general manager of Kerala Clays and Ceramic Products Ltd in Kannur.
Opposition alleged that Deepthi, daughter-in-law of Jayarajan's elder brother, was appointed in the PSU without the requisite qualification.
CPM state secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan on Wednesday held talks with Jayarajan for nearly an hour at the AKG Centre, the party head quarters, and has reportedly sought details of various appointments made by him. Jayarajan declined to talk to the media after his visit to the party office.
Josephine complains
Meanwhile, according to media reports CPM central committee member M.C. Josephine on Wednesday lodged a complaint with Kodiyeri Balakrishnan against the appointment of the relatives of party leaders in key posts.
Josephine, a staunch V.S. Achutanandan loyalist, reportedly alleged in her complaint that the present controversy had brought disgrace to the party and the four-month-old government headed by Pinarayi Vijayan.
She specially mentioned about the appointment of relatives of party leaders as government pleaders in the Kerala High Court after the LDF government came into power.
Josephine also demanded a serious introspection of party leadership on the issue.
CPI general secretary G Sudhakar Reddy, in New Delhi, said "in such a type of case, it is necessary to discuss inside the Left Front and some sort of rules should be framed".
"It is not only that Left government should be free from these type of criticisms, they should also look justified and stand for the values for which people voted the left front government," Reddy said.
(With agency inputs)
