‘BJP tried to field my son as a candidate,’ EP Jayarajan alleges in his autobiography

Kannur, Kerala: Veteran CPM leader EP Jayarajan has alleged that the BJP tried to make his son a political candidate, repeatedly calling him over the phone.

He revealed this in his autobiography, ‘Ithanente Jeevitham’ (This is my life). According to Jayarajan, his son did not answer the calls, and rumours that he had discussed matters with BJP leaders were false.

The book, published by Mathrubhumi Books, was released by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and handed over to author T. Padmanabhan. The book chronicles Jayarajan’s journey through the communist movement in Kerala. CM Vijayan described it as a fact-based account of a life shaped by the communist struggle.

Earlier, controversy erupted over the release of a book reportedly claimed to be Jayarajan’s autobiography, titled “Kattan Chayaum Parippuvadayum: Oru Communistinte Jeevithavum.”

The issue first gained attention on the day of the Palakkad and Chelakkara Assembly bypolls in the state. The book also allegedly mentions internal party disagreements over fielding P. Sarin as the CPM candidate in Palakkad, a claim that added to the controversy.

Jayarajan later took legal action against the publishers, though he confirmed that no proceedings were pursued after they issued an apology. He said the book was intended to misrepresent him as being against the government and that even its title was meant to mock him.

“I am the one who should prepare my autobiography. The publishers had political motives. At the time of the controversy, the book wasn’t even half-written. I didn’t even know P. Sarin personally before this. Yet the book was published, claiming I had written about him. Ultimately, it misrepresented me as being against the government,” Jayarajan said.