Veteran Marxist Leader Jayarajan Meets Kerala CM Amid Party Tensions

Veteran CPI (M) leader E P Jayarajan met Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan amidst speculated intra-party tensions. The meeting in Delhi followed the demise of CPI (M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury. Despite reports of differences, Jayarajan emphasized ongoing respect and accused the media of misinterpretation.

Veteran CPI (M) leader E P Jayarajan met with Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Saturday amid reported internal tensions within the party. The conversation took place at Kerala House in New Delhi, where both leaders had come to pay their respects to the deceased party general secretary, Sitaram Yechury.

This meeting holds particular significance due to recent media reports suggesting differences between Jayarajan and the party leadership following his removal as LDF convenor. Jayarajan, who has been avoiding public events and party functions for some time, dismissed these claims, attributing them to media misinterpretation.

"We are all part of a party family and have mutual respect," Jayarajan told reporters, clarifying that his meeting with the Chief Minister was nothing out of the ordinary. Accusing the media of spreading false information, he urged journalists to report accurately. On August 31, the CPI (M) announced that Jayarajan would vacate his position as LDF convenor, to be succeeded by T P Ramakrishnan.

(With inputs from agencies.)