Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) President K Sudhakaran on Wednesday warned senior party member KV Thomas that he would be expelled should he attend rival CPM's seminar.
"We [Congress] have taken a stance. If one is to remain with Congress, they must follow the party policy. The same applies to me too. If I'm not toeing the party line, then I too must be expelled. No individual is above the party," Sudhakaran said.
"If KV Thomas wishes to exit the party, he can do so. But I'm certain that he will not. He will also not attend the CPM seminar," Sudhakaran added.
Opposition leader VD Satheesan too had expressed hope that Thomas, the former Union minister, would refrain from attending the rival's seminar.
"No Congress leader can attend CPM's seminar in Kannur where many of our party workers have shed their blood," "Satheesan said.
Thomas is keeping many in the party on their toes after he openly expressed his desire to attend a seminar on the sidelines of the CPM's 23rd Party Congress in Kannur.
The Congress high command, upholding the state's leadership decision, has barred him from going to the CPM event twice already.
On Monday, finding no merit in his arguments, the party's top brass had shot down Thomas's request seeking permission to attend the event yet again.
Congress' organisation secretary K C Venugopal had reportedly conveyed the decision to Thomas.
However, the senior Congress leader is yet to publicly decline the CPM invitation. He is slated to address the media at 11 am on Thursday.
Earlier, Congress MP Shashi Tharoor, who too had expressed his desire to attend the seminar, backtracked on his decision after the high command forbade any participation.
Meanwhile, the organisers of the event have said Thomas and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin will attend the event.
CPM Kannur district secretary M V Jayarajan on Wednesday said that the name of Thomas has been retained in the speakers' list as he has not informed the organisers about his inability to attend the event.
The CPM continued to express confidence that at least some Congress leaders would attend the seminar.
Thomas has been invited to speak at a seminar on 'centre-state relations' at 5 pm on April 9 (Saturday).
