THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan was the courage for K T Jaleel. Kerala has seen this support from the Chief Minister including in the nepotism charges. The chief's minister’s strong support made Jaleel to stick on to his chair despite opposition's strong protests. We could see this even in the nepotism charges against Jaleel.

The chief minister did not even ask Jaleel to resign when Lok Ayukta’s verdict blamed the minister clearly. Instead accepted Jaleel’s request seeking time to file plea against the verdict. The CPM did not object Pinarayi’s words and gave him time. With this, some within the party raised allegations that he was being unfairly protected. They also hinted that protecting him beyond limits would be a major setback. They pointed that when E P Jayarajan courted controversy in the same issue, the party did not give him any time and made him resign without giving face value to Jayarajan’s arguments. There was a situation of an internal rift in the party in the name of Jaleel. There was an effort from the side of the party to solve the issue after smelling danger.

M A Baby had the other day hinted that Jaleel would not be protected. Baby also rejected Minister A K Balan’s arguments questioning Lok Ayukta verdict. The chief minister sought his resignation when there was a strong demand for action within the front.

The chief minister saw K T Jaleel as the bridge connecting the CPM to the Muslim community. Many in the party say that is why there was so much support from the side of the chief minister. Jaleel got close to the chief minister as he played a crucial role in the CPM’s recent move in Malappuram.