Ouster of EP: An action for the sake of it

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: CPM Central Committee member E P Jayarajan’s removal as the LDF convener is part of the CPM's attempt to ensure that it doesn’t lose the anti-RSS-BJP crusader image it banks heavily on for electoral gains. The decision, the party hopes, would help its rank and file to counter the allegations of a CPM-BJP secret understanding, especially after the victory of BJP candidate Suresh Gopi from the Thrissur Lok Sabha constituency.

The CPM Central leadership too had acknowledged the growing presence and acceptance of the BJP in Kerala and sought measures to check the same. The party has also recommended corrective measures to safeguard its political base. The removal of E P Jayarajan as the LDF convener is also a part of the corrective measures the CPM has promised in the Lok Sabha election review reports.

In fact, E P Jayarajan is a soft target against whom the party can go harsh at this point in time, without any self-harm. Even though CPM state secretary M V Govindan says that the removal of the LDF convener was not a disciplinary action, it doesn’t preclude the chance for more action against the Central Committee member E P Jayarajan. However, nobody in the party or the LDF thinks that E P Jayarajan would revolt against the party or seek greener pastures in other political parties, including the BJP.

Since EP never fought any political fight on his own, CPM leaders in Kannur know that petulance, not revolt, is the forte of E P Jayarajan and hence there is a limit to the damage he can do to the party. E P Jayarajan is someone against whom the CPM, especially Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, can go harsh at this point in time when there are no rival factions in the party. It’s not the gravity of the offence or political appropriateness of his meeting with Javadekar that did cost Jayarajan his chair.

``It’s the need of the hour for the party to prove its authority that led to his ouster as LDF convener. This is an action for its own sake. Jayarajan has already expressed his wish to retire from active politics. He won’t mind losing the LDF convener post. He had occupied several important party and parliamentary positions by switching sides with powerful factions in the party throughout his career," a former CPM state committee member said.