SOUTH
Expressing his strong resentment on the 'appointment controversy', Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan summoned state Industries Minister EP Jayarajan and admonished him for the appointment of his close kin in as head of a state government undertaking.
Reports say the Chief Minister is clearly unhappy over the unnecessary controversy that had put Left government in a defensive mode.
On Friday evening, Jayarajan was summoned by the Chief Minister to the Kannur government guest house and sought explanation on the matter.
The appointment of P K Sudheer, son of CPM MP P K Sreemathy and nephew of E P Jayarajan, as the managing director of Kerala State Industrial Enterprises (KSIE), had stirred up a hornet's nest following which the department hastily cancelled the appointment.
Meanwhile, the opposition is leaving no stones unturned to turn the issue into a major row. Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) president VM Sudheeran has demanded the resignation of the Minister and leader of opposition Ramesh Chennithala has handed over a letter to Vigilance Director to probe the appointment of relatives of all prominent leaders.