Senior CPM state committee member and former minister T P Ramakrishnan has been appointed as acting LDF convener. The move comes in the wake of the removal of senior leader E P Jayarajan as convener.

Ramakrishnan began his political career with the Kerala Students Federation. He had served as the Minister for Excise and Labour in the first Pinarayi Vijayan Government.

An understanding was reached in the CPM state secretariat meeting held the other day to remove Jayarajan who was facing strong criticisms from the party over his controversial meeting with BJP leader Prakash Javadekar. A report in this regard was placed before the CPM state committee on Saturday. As Jayarajan is a member of the central committee, the central leadership will announce the action against him.  

On the morning of April 26, during the last Lok Sabha elections in Kerala, Jayarajan surprised the CPM with his statements. He publicly told the media that he had met BJP national leader and Kerala in-charge Prakash Javadekar. Jayarajan mentioned that the meeting took place at his son's house in Akkulam, which led to criticisms within the CPM.

After his disclosure, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan himself came out with harsh criticism against him. The Chief Minister said that Jayarajan lacked vigilance and said, “If Shiva joins a sinner, Shiva also becomes a sinner” in a veiled attack against his dealings with controversial middleman T G Nandakumar.