Kannur: Senior Congress leader KV Thomas is slated to attend a seminar on the sidelines of CPM's national conclave here on Saturday.
His participation is likely to decide the fate of his innings in Congress as both the state leadership and the party high command had forbidden him from attending.
However, throwing their warnings to the wind, Thomas arrived in Kannur on Friday and was received at the airport by CPM activists to huge applause.
CPM Kannur district secretary MV Jayarajan wrapped a red shawl around him on arrival. This has raised the question of whether Thomas now plans to jump ship to CPM.
His recent comments on LDF-government's ambitious yet controversial SilverLine project too have given weight to the idea that a jump is likely.
The Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) had barred him from attending the seminar citing the ongoing protest against the CPM-led government's aggressive push for SilverLine project.
The All-India Congress Committee (AICC) too had asked him to abide by the state leadership's decision.
However, Thomas slammed the leadership for barring him. He contested that matter of centre-state relations (the topic of the seminar he will attend) was a national issue.
He also said that those opposing BJP and communalism should stand together.
"Congress has its own limitations. There may be issues between Congress and CPM in Kerala, but they should be kept aside," the former Union Minister said.
His move, defying even the advice of party president Sonia Gandhi, has enraged both the state-level leaders and the AICC honchos.
Thomas no longer enjoys the confidence of even a single leader in the party's top body either in Thiruvananthapuram or New Delhi.
The KPCC is reportedly keen to straightaway expel renegade senior party leader KV Thomas rather than serving him with a perfunctory suspension order if he attends the seminar.
KPCC President K Sudhakaran had warned a couple of days ago that Thomas would have to pay for his act of indiscipline.
The All-India Congress Committee (AICC) is likely to concur with the KPCC's opinion before taking a call on the nature of punishment for defying the party orders.
Or it may endorse the apex state body, KPCC, to do as it wishes as it was the latter that barred Thomas from attending the CPM function.
The opinion of AICC disciplinary committee chairman, AK Antony, is crucial even if the KPCC may endorse an outright expulsion.
Ironically, Antony and Thomas were close associates earlier.
Thomas is a former legislator, union minister, state minister and Member of Parliament.
Of late he has been disillusioned over his apparent sidelining by the party leadership though he made repeated moves to land a leadership role in the KPCC.
