Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPI(M)) Central committee member E. P. Jayarajan was sworn in as Minister in the Pinarayi Vijayan Cabinet on Tuesday.
At a simple and brief function held at the Raj Bhavan here in the morning, Kerala Governor P. Sathasivam administered the oath of office and secrecy to Mr. Jayarajan, who represents Mattannur constituency in the Legislative Assembly.
The Chief Minister, Pinarayi Vijayan, Ministers, legislators of the ruling Left Democtratic Front (LDF), CPI(M) State secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan, Chief Secretary Tom Jose, top IAS and IPS officials attended. The Opposition United Democratic Front (UDF) boycotted the function.
With the induction of Mr. Jayarajan, the size of the Cabinet has gone up to 20. For the CPI(M) Central committee member hailing from Kannur, this will be the second innings in the ministry.
Mr. Jayarajan had to resignon October 14, 2016, when the Opposition and the media raised a furore over the appointment of a close kin at the helm of a State public sector undertaking and the Vigilance registered a case against him over the allegation. The Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau (VACB) had subsequently cleared him of the charges, leading to the High Court quashing the charge sheet against him on September 27, 2017.
