After getting Jayarajan out, Congress targets Vijayan

Thiruvanthapuram, Oct 17: After a successful campaign for the ouster of Industries Minister E.P. Jayarajan — No.2 in the Pirayi Vijayan Cabinet — over nepotism charges, a buoyant Congress-led Opposition on Monday trained its guns on the Kerala Chief Minister himself. Jayarajan on Friday resigned after coming under attack for appointing two relatives to top posts in Kerala state public sector enterprises (PSUs). On Monday, Congress legislator V.D. Satheeshan moved an adjournment motion seeking a discussion in the assembly on Vijayan’s role in the appointments made by Jayarajan. “We have documents to prove that the agency concerned (RIAB) to select candidates for top posts in the state PSUs submitted a list, of which only six were selected and the remaining 11 were selected from outside the list. As per the information we have, Vijayan was in the know of things as all files concerning the appointments were sent to him,” said Satheesan. Vijayan, in his reply, said all appointment files need not be seen by the Chief Minister and this case (appointments made by Jayarajan) was also like that. “You (Congress) people can never ever imagine of doing what Jayarajan did. He quit the moment this surfaced, while during your time, you only gave excuses one after another. Jayarajan quit to prove that we stand by values,” said Vijayan.  (IANS)