Protests over nepotism by Industries Minister E. P. Jayarajan

Thiruvananthapuram: Appointments of relatives of Industries Minister E. P. Jayarajan in public sector undertakings have invited protests from within LDF and outside.

Opposition Leader Ramesh Chennithala and the BJP have written to the Vigilance and Anti-corruption Bureau seeking an enquiry into the appointments.  Chief Minister Pinarai Vijayan has reportedly conveyed his displeasure to Mr. Jayarajan after meeting him private. The party is slated to discuss the issue next week. Two local committee of the party have complained about appointment of general manager in Kerala Clays and Ceramics.

Several relatives of the Minister and other leaders of CPI (M) have been appointed to key posts in public sector undertakings.  Hardly any of them had the stipulated qualifications for the posts. The government had to cancel the appointment of nephew of the Minister as Managing Director of Kerala State Industrial Enterprises early this week.

The Opposition is likely to raise the issue strongly when the Assembly resumes sitting on October 17. Mr. Chennithala noted that nepotism amounted to corruption attracting three years imprisonment.

KPCC president V. M. Sudheeran demanded that Mr. Jayaran should resign as he had violated oath of office taken by him.