In a new political development in Kerala, the leadership of Janata Dal (Secular), an ally of the ruling Left Democratic Front, has replaced its lone minister, Mathew T Thomas, with his party colleague K Krishnankutty. The party leadership has asked Mathew T Thomas to quit to pave the way for Krishnankutty to assume the post of Water Resources Minister in the state. While Krishnankutty says that this was always the plan, the reshuffle comes even as a case of hurling casteist insults is being heard in a Kerala court against Mathew T Thomas’s wife.
A woman, a former member of the Mathew’s personal staff, had complained that the minister’s wife and some members of the personal staff humiliated her by calling her caste names. Mathew Thomas believed this to be a conspiracy against him by the opposing group in the party. The case based on the complaint is before the consideration of the court.
JD(S), has three members in the 140-member Assembly in Kerala – Mathew Thomas, Krishnankutty, and CK Nanu.
A senior politician, Krishnankutty is representing Chittur constituency of Palakkad district in the Assembly. “The decision has been taken by the party leadership. There is nothing surprising in it as the decision is based on the earlier understanding that the ministerial berth would be shared by both of us for two and half years each. The understanding was that Mathew T Thomas will quit the post after two and half years,” Krishnankutty told TNM. Krishnankutty is also the state president of the JD(S).
It is learnt that Mathew T Thomas will submit his resignation on Monday.
The state leaders of the party met JD(S) National Secretary General Kunwar Danish Ali in Bengaluru on Friday. The meeting was headed by Former Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda, who is the national president of the party. However Mathew T Thomas was absent in the meeting.
The meeting passed a resolution to replace the minister. According to reports, Danish Ali told media in Bengaluru that the party will send a copy of the resolution to Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan.