After E P Jayarajan, the second in command in the Kerala government, resigned as minister and vacated his seat, law minister A K Balan was given his chair.
Is being seated next to the chief minister an indication of proximity to him? Maybe not.
When Pinarayi was absent in the assembly the onus for answering on his behalf fell on PWD minister G Sudhakaran. Naturally, the opposition wanted to know who really is the second-in-command?
Kerala sports and industries minister EP Jayarajan, a right-hand man of Pinarayi and an associate of Vijayan from Kannur, had resigned following charges of nepotism. The powerful minister’s resignation was a major blow to chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan who rode to power alleging corruption in previous Congress-led government.
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Pinarayi, a formidable leader, is keeping those with chief ministerial ambitions in check. Does Pinarayi think Balan harbours such ambitions?
