Without Jayarajans , Pinarayi Vijayan attempts to hold CPI(M) s strong bastion of Kannur ANI | Updated: Apr 05, 2021 03:02 IST
By Amiya Kumar Kushwaha
Kannur (Kerala) [India], April 5 (ANI): The CPI(M) stronghold of Kannur district, where incumbent Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan is contesting from holds a hidden J factor that may impact the April 6 Assembly polls in Kerala.
After close to two decades, this Assembly election will for the first time see none of the three Jayarajans of Kannur contesting.
The Jayarajans - EP Jayarajan, Industries Minister in Pinarayi Vijayan cabinet, P Jayarajan who represented Koothuparamba constituency from 2001 to 2011 and former district secretary of Kannur along with MV Jayarajan the present Kannur district secretary who was elected to the Kerala Legislative Assembly in 1996 and 2001 from Edakkad constituency are missing in the fray.
One may feel there is nothing in a moniker, but it is not that simple in the ruling CPI(M), where Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan is addressed as Captain by admirers, triggering a raging debate within the party and outside, with many saying the tag should be given to the political outfit and not an individual. Kerala s captain is here or the captain who led Kerala in crisis are some of the slogans used to welcome the Chief Minister by hardcore supporters and followers during poll campaigns and meetings. However, the Left critics opine that the Marxist party has no tradition of branding or projecting any individual as its face, especially during elections and any act against it is personality cult worship.