KV Thomas, defies Congress leadership diktat, to attend CPI(M) function

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Defying the party ultimatum, senior leader and former union minister Prof K V Thomas on Thursday announced that he would attend a seminar on Saturday at the ongoing CPI(M) party function in Kannur, an even which Congress interim Chief Sonia Gandhi has instructed not to participate in. He, However, made it clear that he would not quit the party and remain as a Congressman till his last breath.

This may attract a showdown with the Congress leadership. The CPM party function is being held in Kannur and KV Thomas was invited alongside other Congress leaders to be part of a seminar.

Announcing his decision at a press conference, Thomas, who held coveted posts like union minister and minister in the state government when the Congress was in power both at the Centre and in the state, alleged that he was humiliated to the core and subjected to harsh social media campaigns by certain partymen.

"I have decided to take part in the seminar. I will go there. I am not going to take part in a political programme of the CPI(M) but in a national seminar. Issue is more important for me, not politics," said the senior leader, who had a strained relationship with the party leadership after he was denied tickets to contest in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls and in the State Assembly polls held last year.

With the high command issuing a directive to not take part in the event, leaders like Shashi Tharoor and Ramesh Chennithala had withdrawn from the event. However, KV Thomas featured in the programme notice which was released recently. This has given rise to major concerns in the Congress party.

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