Whenever P T Thomas moved for an adjournment motion in the Kerala Assembly, the Opposition benches would share an amusing point. They consider Mananthavady MLA O R Kelu as calm and the most passive among those in the treasury benches. But when P T Thomas began his tirade, even Kelu would be up on his feet. P T, as he was fondly called, would ensure it!
P T Thomas, who died on Wednesday, was that fiery. With his fiery speeches, he would lash out at his opponents, including Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan. But even his rivals respected him. They are well aware that P T Thomas had no other interests, other than the politics of his own party.
That's why when PT was absent from the Assembly, the chief minister sent a note to opposition leader V D Satheesan, asking 'What happened to PT'? Satheesan replied that he had gone for a check-up.
Thomas could raise any issue in the Kerala Assembly, rattling the House. He was not familiar with the middle ground. His forthright manner could have created enemies. But the Thrikkakara legislator was also able to forge friendship with them later.
P T Thomas had been the Congress Parliamentary party secretary during the term of the last Assembly (2016-21). When it was being considered to retain him in the same position, Thomas had backed off, asking the party leadership to give the opportunity to another person.
During the last Assembly session, the opposition legislators of the United Democratic Front had boycotted the House proceedings and held a session outside the Assembly complex. Even then, P T Thomas had moved the notice of adjournment motion and flayed the government ruthlessly. Over the Monson Mavunkal issue too, P T Thomas had moved for the adjournment motion in the Assembly and put the government on the defensive.
Even when he had to stay away due to his treatment, the MLA turned up to present a resolution for his constituency. The name of P T Thomas was doing the rounds while talks were on to pick the opposition leader for this term and again during the selection of the KPCC president, underlining the sway he held both in the party and the Assembly.
AICC general secretary Tariq Anwar had directly informed him that he was being considered for the Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) president post. Finally, when K Sudhakaran was picked for the top job in the party, P T was assigned to be the working president.
P T Thomas forged friendships with almost everyone he came across. The politician always carried a diary in his pocket and would immediately note out the name, address and phone number of any person he got acquainted with. There was also a writing pad before P T Thomas, during discussions at the Assembly or outside. He would duly note down everything.
After coming to know of his illness, the chief minister, speaker and opposition leader had held consultations and initiated steps to take him to a hospital at Cleveland, USA, for specialised treatment. But as his health deteriorated, this was not possible.
Whenever he came across his friends, P T Thomas did not just offer a handshake. He was able to impart the positive energy in him to them, his colleagues vouch. His demise is indeed a huge loss for the Congress.