The gold smuggling scam, the LIFE Mission corruption charges and the drug trafficking case with its origin in Bangalore in which the CPI(M) ministers and leaders stand accused have rejuvenated the opposition BJP and to a certain extent the Muslim League in Kerala.

“The resignation or sacking of K T Jaleel, the higher education minister and E P Jayarajan, the industries minister from the council of ministers will not solve the political impasse in the State. Things have gone out of control and there is no guarantee that the name of a third minister would not crop up in the next two-three days,” said Jayashankar , Kerala’s leading political commentator who says that  the situation looks like a political disaster for the CPI(M).

He said there was no guarantee that Jaleel would not be summoned by the Customs and CBI in days to come. “It is a blot on the face of the Government led by Pinarayi Vijayan. The Government is facing a three-pronged attack from the BJP, its women’s wing and the Muslim League. Though the CPI(M) tried to communalize the Quran import scam, it didn’t materialize  because of the intervention of a section of Muslim League led by its youthful leader P K Feroze,” Jayashankar told The Pioneer.

Jayashankar said Vijayan stands exposed in front of the people of Kerala. “The links his secretary had with gold smuggling syndicates in Kerala and minister Jaleel’s liaison with Swapna Suresh has been well established. Same is the case with Jayarajan and his son Jaison.  What I see is total darkness at the end of the tunnel. A section of the CPI(M) leaders are also upset with the actions of Vijayan and they remain incommunicado,” said Jayashankar.

P Rajan, septuagenarian journalist and former senior editor of Mathrubhumi said Jaleel could be dropped by the Chief Minister in the backdrop of Thursday morning’s questioning of the minister by the NIA. “As such there is no situation mandating the dismissal of this government. It is true that the opposition is staging rallies and marches. These are all part of a democratic system but the Government is not on a strong wicket as things stand today,” said Rajan.

Jayashankar said even Ramesh Chennithala (Leader of the Opposition) got a rejuvenation by Thursday as the NIA summoned Jaleel for questioning.