T’PURAM/ALAPPUZHA: Even as senior CPM leader E P Jayarajan is feeling the heat over the ‘autobiography’ controversy, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and the CPM leadership have offered whole-hearted support to the former LDF convenor.
Endorsing Jayarajan’s arguments, Pinarayi alleged that there was a deliberate move afoot to help the UDF and the BJP. Meanwhile, the CPM secretariat that met on Friday decided to stand by Jayarajan and his version of events, at least for now.
Inaugurating the CPM area committee office at Kanjikuzhy in Alappuzha on Friday, Pinarayi said Jayarajan had clarified that he had not penned any of the contentious topics now being discussed in the media. Determined to effectively counter the campaign, Pinarayi said these are deliberate attempts to create needless controversies.
“Jayarajan assured us that none of what is being discussed is part of what has been written so far. We asked Jayarajan if he knew Sarin. He said he did not know him earlier and confirmed that there is nothing about Sarin in the book. Certain people are deliberately trying to stoke controversies,” Pinarayi said.
He also countered allegations over Jayarajan’s meeting with BJP leader Prakash Javadekar. “The meeting between Jayarajan and Javadekar took place more than a year-and-a-half ago. But the news was deliberately highlighted on election day. Similarly, the controversy over Jayarajan’s autobiography surfaced on the day of the by-elections. These incidents clearly point to a deliberate agenda aimed at helping the UDF and the BJP,” Pinarayi said.
Meanwhile, the party secretariat, which met in Jayarajan’s presence, decided to stand by the senior leader. The CPM will not examine the merits of the autobiography episode. At the meet, Jayarajan reiterated his version that he has not told the media anything related to the book ‘Parippu Vadayum Kattan Chayayum’, attributed to him.
EP alleges conspiracy behind controversy
Dismissing any role or relation with the controversy, Jayarajan reportedly told the committee that all news reports related to it were baseless. Jayarajan said he has not signed any contract with DC Books or any other firm for the publication of any such book.
“There is a conspiracy behind the move to release such news on the day of the bypolls. I haven’t finished the autobiography and there is no mention about LDF candidate Sarin. How can a book supposedly written by me be released without my prior knowledge and approval? No contract agreement has been signed with any publisher,” he reportedly said.
Jayarajan also informed the committee that he has already initiated legal action against the publishers. He has also approached the DGP with a petition seeking an inquiry into the whole matter. Unlike what happened last time — when his meeting with the BJP national leader turned controversial — this time around, there was no severe criticism against Jayarajan at the secretariat. There was also a consensus among the leaders that benefit of doubt should be given to Jayarajan till the findings of the police inquiry is known.
Briefing the media, CPM state secretary M V Govindan said the CPM will not look into the EP controversy. “What was E P Jayarajan’s crime? A publisher used his name without his authorisation. The controversy has not affected the party. Jayarajan has already clarified that it was not written by him. A false propaganda is being spread against EP. He has also clarified that the portion on Palakkad LDF candidate P Sarin is not true,” Govindan pointed out.