When Communism meets nepotism: Vijayan’s son-in-law PA Mohammed Riyas is now a minister in Kerala’s new cabinet

Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan is being lambasted for selecting his son-in-law PA Mohammed Riyas as a minister in his cabinet. Reportedly, he will likely be given the departments of PWD, Tourism, and Youth welfare within the new Kerala cabinet.However, the choice didn’t go down effectively with many within the state, particularly the opposition leaders. The BJP state president Okay Surendran has labelled his new workforce as a “kitchen cabinet”. Surendran, whereas not directly referencing the induction of the CM’s son-in-law PA Mohammed Riyas into the Cabinet, accused CPI(M) of propagating nepotism. He went additional and criticised Vijayan for not offering illustration for Kasargod and Wayanad within the Cabinet.Nepotism = Pinarayi = CPI(M).#kitchencabinet— Okay Surendran (@surendranbjp) May 18, 2021Mohammed Riyas began his political profession as a scholar. He held the place of nationwide joint secretary of DYFI, which is the youth wing of CPI(M) and was appointed DYFI’s president in February 2017. Riyas had allegedly led ‘beef cooking’ protests in 2017 after the Centre sought to manage the acquisition and sale of cattle to make sure adherence to security and hygiene practices. He had additionally unsuccessfully contested for the Kozhikode Lok Sabha seat in 2019.Marrying Vijayan’s daughter Veena Vijayan in 2020 was the one political achievement for Mohammed Riyas earlier than turning into a cabinet minister. Many conservative Hindus checked out their marriage as love jihad although nobody raised it significantly. The marriage, nonetheless, was portrayed as having a social message of unity between the opposing religions.Pinarayi Vijayan’s daughter Veena to marry DYFI National President Muhammed Riyas.Love Jihad proper on the very high.— Indu Makkal Katchi (Offl) (@Indumakalktchi) June 9, 2020Before his marriage to Vijayan’s daughter, Riyas was married to Dr Sameeha Saithalvi. A certified physician, Saithalvi was not allowed to work after her marriage. She has alleged an abusive relationship which included the demand for dowry and violent beatings. She additionally accused Riyas of trying to kidnap their sons. Even although they’ve cut up up after the divorce in 2015, the case of home violence was nonetheless being fought in courtroom till a couple of days earlier than the wedding of Riyas and Veena in 2020.Mohammed Riyas and Veena Vijayan’s marriage ceremony was attended by a choose group of fifty company. Among the identical was Riyas’ cousin Mohammed Hashim, a person who was implicated within the homicide of RSS employee Ottapilavu Suresh Babu 24 years in the past. Though the High Court had acquitted him, he was convicted by the supreme courtroom in 2017 and sentenced to seven years imprisonment. He was granted parole to attend the marriage on the CM resident. Incidentally, CM was holding the house portfolio.Mohammed Hashim, assassin of RSS Karyakarta Shri. Suresh Babu, & convicted by Supreme Court for a similar, attended the wedding of @CMOKerala Pinarayi Vijayan’s daughter at Chief Minister’s official residence. He was one among the many 50 particular invitees. Shocking! pic.twitter.com/DPAovrF13I— Sobha Surendran (@SobhaBJP) June 15, 2020With the monitor report of Mohammed Riyas, many would query the judgement for Pinarayi Vijayan contemplating that the one factor that may be thought of as benefit to Riyas is the truth that he’s the son-in-law of the CM of Kerala. To many, this will likely be seen as a transparent instance of nepotism in politics.