The CPI(M) state secretariat on Friday gave the nod for the re-induction of CPI(M) leader EP Jayarajan into the Pinarayi Vijayan cabinet, according to party state secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan.

The swearing-in of Jayarajan, a central committee member of the party, would take place in the state capital on Tuesday.

He will get back the industries portfolio, which he held when he quit on October 14, 2016, just four months after becoming a minister, following charges that he appointed close relatives to top posts in a state-run PSU.

On account of his return, AC Moideen who held the portfolio will be given the Local Self Government portfolio, which was held by KT Jaleel.

Jaleel has been given the portfolio of Higher Education and Social Justice, currently held by two different ministers.

After Jayarajan resigned, the vigilance department launched a probe. Last year the court cleared him of all the charges. Since then, he and his supporters have been rooting for his return to the ministry.

Meanwhile, the Congress-led opposition in Kerala on Thursday has objected to the re-induction of EP Jayarajan into the Pinarayi Vijayan cabinet.

On Thursday, Leader of Opposition Ramesh Chennithala said the re-induction of Jayarajan as a Minister would be immoral.

With Jayarajan being the senior most among CPI-M ministers, all eyes are on if he would deputise for Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan when he goes abroad for treatment later this month.

The nepotism row in which Jayarajan was embroiled surfaced in October 2016, and deals with the out-of-turn appointment of his nephew Sudheer Nambiar as the Managing Director of Kerala State Industrial Enterprise during Jayarajan’s tenure as Minister. Sudheer is the son of Kannur MP and CPI(M) party veteran PK Sreemathi who is Jayarajan’s sister.

Following the controversy, in April 2017, the CPI(M) had issued a ‘warning’ to Jayarajan and his sister. The Central Committee had noted that both Jayarajan and Sreemathy were members of the Committee, and such actions from senior members were not acceptable. 

With IANS inputs