I have met Jayarajan three times in the presence of Nandakumar | Sobha Surendran interview

Left front convener and CPM central committee member E.P Jayarajan has shown interest in joining BJP, said BJP leader Sobha Surendran. Three discussions were held in Kerala and Delhi as part of this, she alleged. Speaking to Mathrubhumi’s Suryadas, Sobha revealed how Jayarajan had gone to Delhi for the talks without even informing his family. Excerpts from the interview:

EP Jayarajan says that he does not know you

It was broker Nandakumar who introduced me to EP Jayarajan. I have met EP three times in the presence of Nandakumar. The meetings took place in Nandakumar’s house in Vennala, at Lalit Hotel in New Delhi and at Ram Nilayam in Thrissur. Nandakumar is the one who started all this by saying that EP is interested in joining BJP.

When did the discussions begin?

Nandakumar came twice to my house in Ayyanthole. He began these talks when he visited his nephew’s house. He hinted that EP, who was upset and angry over not being offered the position of CPM state secretary, was leaving the party and wished to join the BJP. 

Why did Nandakumar choose you for this crucial mission?

I was the BJP state vice-president at the time and was also the national co-convener of the party’s membership drive. Shivraj Singh Chauhan, former chief minister of Madhya Pradesh, was the convener. I was in-charge of eight states. I had a separate room in the Delhi party office. Nandakumar approached me with a clear understanding of all this. Once when he came home, I heard Nandakumar's long-drawn conversation with EP on the speaker phone. He mentioned on the call that a BJP leader was near him. Jayarajan responded by saying, ‘I don’t believe it. Will news of me visiting Delhi be leaked? Sobha is just a Kerala (regional) leader.’ Then a picture of me standing with Yogi Adityanath, Amit Shah, JP Nadda, etc. was shared with Jayarajan.

Was it after this that you met Jayarajan directly for talks?

I met EP in person for the first time at Nandakumar's house after the informal talks. The meeting lasted for 10 minutes and EP asked that this be kept a secret. I didn’t wish to reveal it either. 

To which BJP leader did you report the details of this discussion?

One of the senior leaders in-charge of the party’s affairs in New Delhi was detailed. It was only after receiving a favourable sign from him that a meeting was arranged in Delhi.

Did EP come alone for the discussions in Delhi?

EP came to Delhi with Nandakumar after deciding to join the party. The discussion took place in January 2023. It was Nandakumar who sent me the flight ticket via Chennai to reach Delhi. We met at Hotel Lalit at around 3 PM. After talking to me, Nandakumar took EP aside and was talking privately. After this, EP spoke to someone on the phone. He agreed to join the party the next day. But he changed his decision that night. ‘Even my family doesn’t know. I am in such a mental conflict,’ EP said with panic to Nandakumar. I was also very saddened by the failure of the mission.

Was the mission abandoned with this setback?

After this Nandakumar would frequently call and promise that everything would work out. Following this, he informed me that Jayarajan was interested in discussions again. That is how I met him again at Ram Nilayam in Thrissur. He took a room in Ram Nilayam in my name. Nandakumar came first and called E.P Jayarajan. Jayarajan said he cannot come to the room now as Minister Radhakrishnan is standing at the entrance. I went out to check and saw that this was true.

No discussions were held after this?

It was after this that the message came from Jayarajan’s son’s phone on April 24, 2023. Someone else called to say that his son’s message had come. They gave the number of someone called Udayan who would connect with Jayarajan. As Udayan said, I reached a hotel room in Ernakulam along with BJP leader Rajagopalan. Jayarajan’s son said that his father would contact us soon. I felt that his son and another person with him were speaking in shock. I don’t know whether they were aware of the topic of discussion or its seriousness. 

And did he contact you? Why did this mission fail?

Chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan came to know that Jayarajan had come to Delhi for discussion. Only Jayarajan knows what happened next.

Jayarajan said that he saw you at Oommen Chandy’s funeral.

Jayarajan's claim of not knowing me and never seeing me, despite visiting me thrice, is a complete lie. I recall seeing him at Oommen Chandy's residence, with P.K. Sreemathy also present. On spotting me, Sreemathy whisked Jayarajan away.

What is the reason for Nandakumar to reveal all these incidents now?

That move was aimed at defeating me in Alappuzha. Nandakumar revealed this on the day that Amit Shah came to campaign for me.

Did Jayarajan ask any conditions to be fulfilled for joining the party?

Matters should be kept top secret, no one in Kerala should know about this, EP had requested. It was Nandakumar, not Jayarajan who demanded that he be offered a union ministry or the post of Maharashtra Governor. Although Nandakumar demanded money for making these moves, I rejected that immediately.