A colourful politician no stranger to controversy, EP leaves LDF stage

EP Jayarajan, a central committee member of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPI(M)), who resigned as president of the Left Democratic Front (LDF) on Saturday, is no stranger to controversy.

Over the decades, Mr Jayarajan has emerged as one of the most colourful and controversial figures in Kerala politics.

He projected the image of an ebullient, gentle and kind leader, which was in stark contrast to the usually stern, media-shy and aloof nature of his CPI(M) compatriots.

First, Prime Minister Pinarayi Vijayan had made a point of accusing Mr Jayarajan of being too generous.

He said Mr Jayarajan’s “candor and kindness” often prevented him from making sound political judgments, including avoiding the difficult company of deceitful power brokers.

Mr Jayarajan originally hails from Keecheri in Kannur and is second only to Mr Vijayan in seniority in the CPI(M).

Mr Jayarajan earned the image of a martyr within the party when he survived a gunshot wound on a moving train in 1995.

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(In May this year, the Supreme Court acquitted KPCC chairman K. Sudhakaran, another veteran of militant politics in Kannur, of conspiracy charges in the case.)

An adept organizer and mobilizer of resources, Mr. Jayarajan played a major role in modernizing the CPI(M) newspaper Deshabhimani.

However, his drive to raise party funds inadvertently landed him in controversies, including the allegation that he had received money for the CPI(M) from a “discredited” lottery mafia king.

In 2016, Mr Jayarajan lost his post as Industries Minister on charges of nepotism. Mr Vijayan later reinstated him. Mr Jayarajan had also been criticised by the Congress for his business ties with former state minister and BJP leader Rajiv Chandrasekhar.

Since his departure, Mr Jayarajan has avoided the media and lived as a hermit in his own country.

Cherian Philip, a longtime associate of the CPI(M) who worked from an office in the AKG Centre, said Mr Jayarajan appeared hurt that the party had sidelined him from top posts while his junior colleagues were promoted to crucial positions, including in the Politburo.

Mr Cherian portrayed Mr Jayarajan as the victim of a palace coup in the CPI(M). “He has now joined the community of displaced communist leaders, including KR Gouri and MV Raghavan.”