Kozhikode: The CPM seems to have killed many birds with one shot by putting up P. Jayarajan as its candidate in Vadakara and removing him from secretary’s post in Kannur.
However, Jayarajan’s fans are not enthused. They see it as a ploy to cleanse the Kannur party off the ‘malicious’ grip of Jayarajan. A star among party workers, the lower rung cadres had ignored party diktats to portray him as a demigod saving Communism in Kannur.
Jayarajan repeatedly got strong warnings at party forums excessive focus on one individual and directed him to discourage party workers from promoting him.
But most party workers believe that with his close links from top to bottom of the party layers, Mr Jayarajan would continue to influence the party unit. “Without his knowledge nothing can happen in Kannur,” says a party worker who preferred anonymity. “He is not like other leaders who ensure safety of their children by sending them to self financing colleges,” he added. Both his sons are party workers and engaged in low-profile jobs for a living while many other leaders allow their progeny to misuse powers,” he pointed out.
By fielding him in Vadakara, the CPM state leadership wants to bring under control the party of Kannur which has been controlled by P. Jayarajan entirely. It is may be recalled that the excessive popularity of Jayarajan had made Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan to walk out of a party programme in Mattannur.
Jayarajan’s confidante P. Mohanan rules the roost in the party as its Kozhikode district secretary. With CPM citadels Thalassery and Koothuparambu coming under the constituency, Jayarajan’s fans believe it will be a tough task in Vadakara even if a strong candidate is fighting on the opposite side.
Another likely factor is the candidature of K.K. Rema, wife of slain RMP founder T.P. Chandrase-kharan. If she files nomination with UDF support, Vadakara will witness a fiery battle.
Will Rema fight? “We are closely watching the situation,” Rema told DC. “For us the election is a venue for ideological fight and when Jayarajan, the key propagator of murder politics, is there at the opposite our fight would be intense,” she said. “We will decide on the candidature of the party at the right time,” she said.
