Kerala Industries Minister EP Jayarajan on Friday resigned from the Left Democratic Front Cabinet following nepotism charges. "I am not interested in clinging on to the post," said Jayarajan, who has been embroiled in a controversy since he appointed his nephew and Kannur legislator PK Sreemathi's son PK Sudhir Nambiar as the managing director of the Kerala State Industrial Enterprises.
The Communist Party of India(Marxist) had condemned the allegations of nepotism and accepted Jayarajan's resignation. Party state secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan said the incident will set an example of good governance, and that the CPI(M) accepted his resignation "as it would help maintain the dignity of the party".
Earlier, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan had refused to accept Jayarajan's explanation and took to Facebook to announce that Chief Secretary SM Vijayanand had been asked to examine the nepotism charges, reported The Hindu. The LDF government has been facing criticism over the appointment of ministerial kin to PSUs. On Wednesday, the Congress had demanded either Jayarajan's resignation or his removal.
On Thursday, the Kerala government had decided to introduce anti-nepotism laws to curb the controversy, reported IANS. Vijayan had said that from now on, appointments to all top posts in state PSUs will be made by an expert committee. The selected candidates will also have to obtain a clearance from the Vigilance Department.
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