Congress MP Thomas attends CPI national seminar against party’s wish
The event was organised as part of the 23rd Party Congress in Kannur. KV Thomas attended the seminar despite stiff resistance from his own party. Not only did he participate in the event, he showered praise on Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and hailed him as one of the good chief ministers of the country.
Sulking Congress leader and five-time MP, K.V. Thomas attended the Communist Party of India (Marxist)’s a national seminar on Centre-state relations in Kannur on Saturday despite opposition from the Congress party.
The event was organised as part of the 23rd Party Congress in Kannur. KV Thomas attended the seminar despite stiff resistance from his own party. Not only did he participate in the event, he showered praise on Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and hailed him as one of the good chief ministers of the country.
While addressing the gathering, Thomas said he was in two minds about whether to attend the event or not, but CM guided him in the right direction. Thomas was warned of strict action by the Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee president if he attended the CPI-M party event.
In a subtle jab at KPCC president CM Vijayan, he stated, "We invited Professor Thomas as a representative of the Congress party. He will be a Congressman. Someone warned him not to take part in the event. We know nothing will happen."
From the stage, Thomas sent a message to his party, if they are accepting former AICC chief Rahul Gandhi as their leader, then they should participate in a programme like this, which is against the policies of the Centre Government.
The senior Congress leader expressed his happiness at being part of the event. He said he came to the event as a Congress man and, after looking at the participants, his decision was not wrong. He said his participation in this event has become a strength for the Congress party also.
The former union minister endorsed the Vijayan government's ambitious Silver Line semi-high-speed rail link project, which his party has strongly opposed. Thomas stated that there was no reason to oppose a development project simply because it was being implemented by Vijayan.
Though Congress leader and Thiruvanathapuram MP Shashi Tharoor was also invited to the national seminar, he did not attend it as he did not get permission from the party to attend it.
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin attended the event.
