Kerala: Crime Branch Probe Ordered After Thiruvanathapuram Mayor Arya Rajendran Denies Writing Letter Asking CPI(M) District Secretary To Nominate People For Jobs

A letter believed to be written by Thiruvananthapuram Mayor Arya Rajendran to Anavoor Nagappan, the district secretary of the Communist Party of India (Marxist), asking for a list of the party's nominations to jobs advertised by the municipal corporation, has emerged.

The image of the letter that is being circulated is on the official letterhead of the mayor and has a signature. It also has the details of the job vacancies exactly as per the advertisement.

The jobs are of temporary nature and include positions like doctors, nurses and pharmacists. A total of 295 jobs were advertised.

This has led to allegations against Rajendran, that she was favouring party members in granting of jobs.

From the time the CPI(M) has come to power, it has been facing accusations of favouring party workers in temporary recruitments and then making their jobs permanent.

Reacting to this, BJP state president K Surendran asked “Is it the role of the CPI(M) district secretary to fill jobs in a corporation? Vacancies should have been reported to the employment exchange. This job racket of the CPI(M) is a challenge to the people and the lakhs of jobless youths of the state. This is nepotism and violation of the oath of office.”

He also demanded that the corporation governing council be dissolved in view of the letter, and that Rajendran must resign.

Rajendran refused to resign and said that she would meet the Chief Minister.

Later, the Kerala government announced a probe into the matter by the Crime Branch of the state police.