Sudhakaran says Jayarajan plans to join BJP
The KPCC chief says Jayarajan enticed with the promise of a gubernatorial position by BJP, claims the latter was unhappy with M.V. Govindan being made party State secretary; The LDF convener dismisses allegations as mere grudges, vows legal action against
Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee president K.Sudhakaran has alleged that Communist Party of India (Marxist) leader and Left Democratic Front convener E.P. Jayarajan is considering a move to the Bharatiya Janata Party.
Addressing the media in Kannur on Thursday, Mr. Sudhakaran said it was Mr. Jayarajan, not him, who was inclined to join the BJP. The focus should be on Mr. Jayarajan’s potential switch, he said.
The discussions between Mr. Jayarajan and the BJP leadership reportedly began in the Gulf, facilitated by a mediator whose identity cannot be revealed, Mr. Sudhakaran said. He refuted claims of such discussions at Thrissur Ram Nilayam.
Mr. Sudhakaran said Mr. Jayarajan was enticed with the promise of a gubernatorial position by the BJP and claimed the latter was discontent at M.V. Govindan being made party State secretary.
Mr. Jayarajan countered the accusations raising Mr. Sudhakaran’s own irtations with the BJP. He said Mr. Sudhakaran tried to join the BJP and even made a trip to Chennai for it. He accused Mr. Sudhakaran of meeting BJP leader Amit Shah, insinuating a deliberate intent to switch parties.
He dismissed Mr. Sudhakaran’s claims as baseless, asserting his antiRashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh stance and highlighting attempts on his life ‘orchestrated by RSS members.’ He shrugged o Mr. Sudhakaran’s allegations as mere grudges, vowing legal action against him.
Shobha’s take
Meanwhile, BJP leader Shobha Surendran said in Alappuzha that Mr. Jayarajan
was ready to join the saron party. His proposed switch to the BJP was “90% completed,” but he withdrew in the eleventh hour “fearing the party [CPI (M)] quotation.” The BJP leader said she had held discussions with Mr. Jayarajan’s son at a hotel in Kochi on January 18, 2023 in the presence of BJP leader C.G. Rajagopal. Mr. Jayarajan’s son had sent her messages on WhatsApp, which remained on her phone.
Ms. Surendran said that talks had been held with Mr. Jayarajan at a hotel in Delhi, but the information was immediately passed on to Chief Minister Pinadran rayi Vijayan by self-styled political power broker T.G. Nandakumar, who acted as an intermediary between Mr. Jayarajan and the BJP.
Air ticket to Delhi
According to the BJP leader, an air ticket for her to go to Delhi on April 23, 2023 to hold discussions on Mr. Jayarajan’s entry into the BJP was arranged by Mr. Nandakumar. Ms. Surendran's revelation follows her statement earlier this week that Mr. Nandakumar had tried to help a top CPI (M) leader switch to the BJP.
On Mr. Nandakumar’s allegation that Ms. Suren
tried to become the Lieutenant Governor of Puducherry by paying a bribe, she said he was trying to defame her. The BJP leader said she had led a complaint against Mr. Nandakumar to State Police Chief Shaik Darvesh Saheb. “By levelling baseless allegations, Mr. Nandakumar has insulted a woman. The police should immediately arrest him,” Ms. Surendran said.
She threatened to launch a protest in front of the police chief’s house if the latter failed to act on her complaint.
Forecast for Friday: Thunderstorm with lightning/gusty winds/hailstorm likely at isolated places over Jammu & Kashmir, Ladakh, Punjab, Uttarakhand, Madhya Pradesh, central Maharashtra and Kerala. Hot and humid weather likely to prevail over Assam, Manipur, Tripura, Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, Karaikal and coastal Karnataka