K Jayakumar set to be TDB president

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Caught in an unenviable situation in the wake of controversies surrounding Sabarimala, the CPM appears to have pushed its way out with a surprise pick for the post of Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) president. Former chief secretary K Jayakumar, a veteran in handling the administration in Sabarimala, will be the new TDB president. The official order is expected to be issued after the chief minister returns from abroad on Saturday. Once appointed, he will assume office immediately. The CPM state secretariat, which met on Friday, zeroed in on the retired IAS officer taking into account his vast experience in handling Sabarimala administration for several years as devaswom secretary, chief devaswom commissioner and chairman of the HC-appointed high-powered committee on Sabarimala. Will happily accept if such an offer comes, says Jayakumar The fact that he had successfully overseen two Mandala-Makaravilakku pilgrimage seasons also weighed in his favour, said a party source. Though a couple of names including that of two senior CPM leaders were under consideration, the party decided to go with Jayakumar in a bid to put an end to the ongoing row over gold theft from the hill shrine. With back-to-back elections coming up, the CPM leadership is keen to put a lid on the ongoing Sabarimala row. The party feels that Jayakumars appointment would not only pacify both pilgrims and believers, but also the judiciary which has been keeping a close watch on Sabarimala. Jayakumar, currently sevring as the Director of the Institute of Management in Government (IMG) in Kerala, said he is yet to get a formal communication in this regard. If such an offer comes, I would happily accept it. Since its an area Im familiar with, I hope Ill be able to perform effectively, he told TNIE. Talking to media, Jayakumar said he would take extra caution not to let any new issue crop up at the hill shrine. He also pointed out that controversies should not be mixed up with the pilgrimage per se. Earlier, the government and the party had decided in principle to give an extension to incumbent president P S Prasanth. It was dropped after the High Court criticised the current board led by Prasanth. Along with Prasanth, member A Ajikumars tenure will end on November 12. Ajikumar is a CPI leader and the party is considering Vilappil Radhakrishnan as his replacement. The third member, P D Santhosh Kumar, a CPM leader, took charge in July-end and can complete a two-year tenure as per rule.