NCP (SP) MLA Thomas Faces Obstacles for Cabinet Position in Kerala, Meeting with Sharad Pawar Scheduled

Thiruvananthapuram, Dec 17 (NationPress) Three months after the national leadership of the NCP (SP) approved the appointment of its legislator Thomas K. Thomas to succeed party member and State Forest Minister A.K. Saseendran in the Pinarayi Vijayan cabinet, the stagnation has ignited discontent within the party.

Saseendran reiterated on Tuesday that he is prepared to resign as soon as directed by the party. However, Thomas believes he is being intentionally overlooked, as it has now been three months since the leadership's decision without any movement.

Accompanied by State party president P.C. Chacko, Thomas will be traveling to Mumbai on Wednesday to meet NCP (SP) national president Sharad Pawar to address the deadlock. It was in September, after a meeting with three Kerala party leaders, that Pawar had sanctioned Thomas' promotion.

Nevertheless, when the decision was presented to Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, Thomas was asked to bide his time. Subsequently, accusations emerged claiming that Thomas had attempted to bribe two Left-affiliated legislators to switch their allegiance to the NCP faction led by Ajit Pawar. This ignited a political uproar, leaving Thomas distressed over what he termed a baseless accusation. A party-level investigation, however, absolved him of all charges.

Despite this, Saseendran seems to have secured Vijayan's backing, creating additional obstacles for Thomas. As per sources, Thomas and Chacko are now set to urge Pawar to issue an ultimatum to Vijayan—either appoint Thomas as minister or the NCP (SP) will relinquish its cabinet representation, effectively forcing Saseendran to resign.

The NCP (SP) is a component of Kerala's ruling CPI(M)-led Left Democratic Front (LDF) and holds two seats in the Assembly, represented by Saseendran and Thomas. Since November 2023, the party's Kerala unit has been in turmoil, as Thomas has insisted on the previously agreed arrangement—Saseendran would step down after two and a half years to facilitate his ascension.

This arrangement contrasts with other LDF constituents that have single legislators, who have recently made way for new parties by stepping aside. However, Saseendran has not adhered to this, escalating tensions further.

Thomas, the brother of the late former state minister Thomas Chandy, has been a significant figure in the NCP's Kerala unit. Chandy, an NRI businessman-turned-politician, represented the Kuttanadu Assembly constituency in Alappuzha district until his demise in 2019. During Chandy's time in office, it was Thomas who managed the constituency on his behalf.

In the 2021 Assembly elections, the NCP nominated Thomas for the Kuttanadu seat, which he won with ease. However, when the Pinarayi Vijayan cabinet was established later that year, the party opted to retain Saseendran for another term, sidelining Thomas.

As the leadership's inaction extends into its fourth month, the matter has broader political implications. The outcome of Thomas' meeting with Sharad Pawar is anticipated to dictate the NCP (SP)'s subsequent actions in Kerala's political landscape.