New Delhi: Even though the Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) leadership has threatened to suspend or expel senior leader K V Thomas from the party over his participation in rival CPM’s Party Congress, the process will not be a smooth affair. According to party rules, the KPCC lacks powers to take action against Thomas as he is a member of the All-India Congress Committee (AICC).
It is pointed out that KPCC can only suggest a punishment for the veteran leader with the party High Command. Subsequently, the national disciplinary committee of the Congress, headed by A K Antony, will take a final decision. Incidentally, Thomas was once very close to Antony.
Meanwhile, the KPCC, led by K Sudhakaran, has decided to wait till the completion of the seminar organised by the CPM in which Thomas has been invited to speak on ‘Centre-state relations’ to act against him. “We don’t want to take a hasty decision and turn Thomas into another ‘martyr’,” said a source close to the KPCC leadership.