K V Thomas, former Union Minister in the Manmohan Singh led council of Ministers, and a widely respected Congress leader from Kerala, has been appointed as the State’s Special Representative in New Delhi with a monthly salary of Rs 1.5 lakhs, an office, a lady secretary and a swanky limousine.
Thomas, addressed lovingly as Thirutha Thoma by friends and well wishers, was in political wilderness since the 2019 Lok Sabha elections as he was not given a constituency by his party, the Indian National Congress. Though there were reports that he was likely to join the BJP, Thomas played his cards cautiously and opted for the CPI(M).
Though he is yet to join the CPI(M), he had made his presence felt in the party by making a cameo appearance during the party Congress held at Kannur and campaigning for the CPI(M) candidate in the by election held at Thrikkakkara.
The Congress has suspended him from the party pending probe. A senior community leader from the Latin Catholic sect, Thomas enjoys the confidence of the Church hierarchy, as well as leaders cutting across party lines.
The grapevine is that Thomas enjoys the confidence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah. “Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has executed a brilliant stroke through this appointment as Thomas has got contacts and influence in offices ranging from PMO, to the Enforcement Directorate and CBI.
Thomas would be of help to the chief minister as well as other CPI(M) leaders facing probe from the ED and the CBI,” said K Jayashankar, political critic.
V D Satheeshan, Leader of the Opposition, said that Thomas would function as a wheeler-dealer between the Sangh Parivar and the CPI(M). “If one scrutinises the number of trips undertaken by Thomas to the Sangh Parivar leaders during the last two years, one can understand what is brewing up,” said Satheeshan.
But an undeterred Thomas told reporters that he would work for getting central clearances for major infrastructure projects like the High Speed Railway Line connecting Kasaragod and Thiruvananthapuram, Sabari Railway, AIIMS and airports in districts like Kottayam, Idukki and Pathanamthitta.
The LDF Government has already appointed two resident commissioners/officers on special duty in New Delhi to pursue the interests of Kerala.
“Thomas would be the special representative and function as first among equals,” said a CPI(M) State leader.
Hailing from Kumbalangi island near Kochi, Thomas who was a physics professor in a Church-run College, made it big in New Delhi with his easy accessibility.