JD(S) won't split, says Mathew T Thomas after quitting

Mathew T Thomas
State Water Resources Minister Mathew T Thomas handing over his resignation to Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan. Photo: PRD

Thiruvananthapuram: State Water Resources Minister Mathew T Thomas today handed over his resignation to Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan.

The move follows the decision of the Janata Dal (Secular), one of the constituents of the Left Democratic Front (LDF), to replace its cabinet nominee with with Chittur legislator K Krishnankutty.

The JD(S) had last week handed over to Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan a letter from its national president H D Deve Gowda on the party's decision to replace its cabinet nominee Mathew T Thomas.

After submitting his resignation, Thomas told reporters outside the Cliff House he has no plans to switchover to the UDF cadre. He also trashed the speculations of a split in JD(S) and said the resignation was unconditional. The delay in handing over the resignation letter was due to the CM's absence in the capital, he said.

The LDF is expected to give nod to Krishnankutty's ministership at its meeting on Tuesday evening.

Krishnankutty is likely to be sworn in as minister Tuesday. The 13th session of the Kerala Assembly is also beginning Tuesday.

The two factions led by Thomas and Krishnankutty have been at loggerheads for quite some time over the party's lone ministerial berth.

JD(S) parliamentary party leader C K Nanu had called on Pinarayi at the Kozhikode Guest House on Saturday morning and handed over the letter.

Nanu said the LDF will also be given a letter soon. After his meeting with Pinarayi, Krishnankutty claimed he is joining the Pinarayi cabinet with majority support. “Majority is most important in democracy,” he said. “Two of the three MLAs in the party are with me. There are no disputes within the party.”

“Loss of a minister's job is saddening for anyone, but it will pass off,” he said in an obvious reference to Thomas.

Nanu said Krishnankutty has always deserved the minister's post. “Krishnankutty had been the party's MLA for the longest period. His name was hence recommended earlier also.

However, the national leadership then preferred Mathew T Thomas.

Nanu had asserted there were are no groups favouring either Krishnankutty or Thomas within the party.

As CPM insists it won't intervene in the internal affairs of other parties, JD(S) won't have any concern regarding Krishnankutty's ministership. However, JD(S) doesn't expect peace in the party as Thomas is reportedly unhappy as he was made to leave the ministry midway. The Krishnankutty faction is unlikely to accept the demands to make Thomas the party chief.

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