Pinarayi reserves comment on appointment issue of relatives

KOZHIKODE: Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan Sunday reserved comment on the appointment of a close relative of Industries and Sports Minister E P Jayarajan to a key post in the government even as pressure was mounting on the latter's expulsion from the Cabinet.

Will talk later, Pinarayi told reporters when sought his comment on the appointment of Sudheer Nambiar, son of party Central Committee member P K Sreemathy, MP, as Managing Director of Kerala State Industrial Enterprises (KSIE).

The appointment was later cancelled by the Industries Ministry following a hue and cry over the issue.

Opposition including the Congress-led UDF and the BJP had demanded expulsion of Jayarajan, who was facing wrath over stuffing of his relatives in key public sector positions under his ministry after assuming office about four months ago.

However, a major blow to the Left Democratic Front government, headed by CPI (M) came when veteran party leader and Administrative Commission Chairman V S Achuthanandan said the appointments tarnished the image of the government and demanded exemplary action against the guilty.

Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee President V M Sudheeran demanded expulsion of Jayarajan, who was mired in a controversy over the appointments.

No one would take at face value the response of Pinarayi that he was not aware of such placements, he told reporters in Thiruvananthapuram.

His party colleague and Opposition leader Ramesh Chennithala demanded cancellation of all appointments of kith and kins in the PSUs in the wake of the controversy.

Commenting on the issue at Wayanad he called for a comprehensive probe against the guilty under Prevention of Corruption Act.

Bharatiya Janata Party former President V Muralidharan and General Secretary K Surendran too demanded action against the Minister while another General Secretary M T Ramesh said it would move court over the issue.

The government was also facing wrath over appointments in PSUs of kith and kins of some other leaders, including Kolikkod Krishnan Nair.