Kerala by-poll: In open challenge, K V Thomas to campaign for LDF candidate in Thrikkakara

He said he would also cooperate with the other campaign programmes of the Left candidate in the coming days for the election, scheduled on May 31.

Justifying his action, the leader said he was a person who always took a stand for development and in Thrikkakara too, his position was the same. Joseph’s success or failure would not make any change in my pro-development stand, he explained.

He also claimed that he was not the first person campaigning for the Left party from the Congress. He pointed out examples of former chief ministers K Karunakaran and A K Antony who had cooperated with the Left at some point of their political career.

Unleashing a scathing attack against the Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) and the party’s state leaders, he alleged there was a deliberate attempt to kick him out of the party since 2018.

In a veiled attack against KPCC chief K Sudhakaran, Thomas said those who indulged in a social media campaign against him were a “paid team” led by certain leaders.

Congress president Sonia Gandhi, last month, had approved the disciplinary panel’s recommendations that Thomas be removed from the state political affairs committee and the KPCC’s executive committee.

The disciplinary committee’s decision came on a complaint sent by Sudhakaran seeking action against Thomas for attending the CPM party congress held in Kannur in April despite a direction by the party not to. Thomas had defended his decision, saying he decided to go as he was threatened that if he did, he would be out of the party.

The veteran Congress leader had in his speech lavished praise on Vijayan and his administrative capabilities and developmental agenda and also extended his whole-hearted support to the Left government’s SilverLine semi-high-speed rail corridor project, which is being strenuously opposed by the Congress.

Meanwhile, Thomas’ announcement that he would campaign for the LDF triggered sharp reactions as AICC General Secretary K C Venugopal made it clear that action would be taken against the leader.

Noting that the PCCs have the power to initiate action against those who work against the party candidates in elections, he said the KPCC can decide on the action to be taken against Thomas, which would be endorsed by the AICC.

He also termed Thomas’ statement that he would remain a Congressman and work for the CPM as “funny”.

Congress candidate Uma Thomas, who recently expressed confidence that Thomas would not campaign for the CPM, on Wednesday declined to comment on the latest development saying the party leadership would react to it.

While Congress picked Uma, widow of late Congress leader and MLA P T Thomas whose death necessitated the by-election, as the candidate, LDF chose Dr Jo Joseph, a prominent cardiologist, as its nominee and BJP decided to field its state vice-president A N Radhakrishnan.

As the UDF tries to retain its numbers in the Assembly and the LDF attempts to increase theirs to 100, the BJP — which does not have a single seat — would be hoping to be represented in the state Assembly.