PALAKKAD: Presumably egged on by the party, CPM stalwart E P Jayarajan on Thursday dashed to Palakkad, where the by-election is scheduled for November 20, and waxed eloquent on the virtues of LDF candidate P Sarin, a day after his reported autobiography landed him and the party in trouble on polling day in Wayanad and Chelakkara.
“Sarin, who quit a revered and lucrative profession to dedicate himself to serving the public, is an excellent candidate,” Jayarajan said in a speech that bordered on flattery during the campaign. “Born into a middle-class peasant family, Sarin rose to become a doctor by dint of sheer talent and hard work. He held a high-ranking job in the government, but continued to stay connected with the people. Though he didn’t formally embrace left politics, he possessed a left-leaning mindset, and always supported farmers and workers,” he said.
“It’s rare for someone with such potential to make money in any field to abandon all of that for politics,” Jayarajan said. The CPM has chosen “the most capable, deserving, and young candidate” for the Palakkad constituency, he added.
The PDF version of the book, Kattan Chayayum Parippu Vadayum - Oru Communistinte Jeevitham, attributed to Jayarajan, which was widely circulated on Wednesday, has uncharitable reference to Sarin’s candidature.
However, the CPM central committee member said, “Just as a doctor takes care of a patient, Sarin seeks to address and heal the unhealthy tendencies present in the society to create a new Palakkad,” Jayarajan said. Asked about the controversy over his autobiography, Jayarajan said he suspected a conspiracy behind it. “It’s still work in progress, and I haven’t entrusted any publisher,” he added.
Jayarajan said he has filed a police complaint, and was waiting for the investigation to get over.