Kochi: Former Union Minister and senior Congress leader KV Thomas seems to have irked the party leadership after he remained adamant to attend a seminar being organised by the ruling CPI(M) in Kerala's Kannur.


Thomas, however, said that he would not quit the party and remain as a Congressman till his last breath.


"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. The issue is more important for me, not politics," the senior party leader said.


According to reports, Thomas' relationship with Congress leadership has taken a nosedive after he was denied tickets to contest in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls and in the Kerala Assembly elections which took place last year. 


The veteran politician even alleged that he was humiliated to the core and subjected to harsh social media campaigns by certain leaders of the Congress party.


Justifying his decision to attend the seminar in Kannur, Thomas pointed out that many Congress leaders, including Rahul Gandhi, had taken part in several programmes organised or related to CPI(M).


He also asserted that there is nothing wrong for him to attend the programme on centre-state relations, which has great national significance in the present political scenario.


Responding to rumours of getting a CPI(M) ticket for the upcoming bypoll to the Thrikkakara Assembly seat, Thomas said that he has already announced that he was not interested in contesting elections anymore.


Congress Terms It Anti-Party Activity


After Thomas' refusal to obey party's decision, an agitated Congress called it an "anti-party activity" and said he will face stern action for violating the order of the high command. 


According to reports, Congress has directed both Thomas and Thiruvananthapuram MP Shashi Tharoor not to attend the CPI(M) seminar in the view of the protest by Kerala Congress unit which is at loggerheads with the Left government in the state over its move to implement semi-high speed railway project.


Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) chief Sudharakaran reiterated that Thomas will face disciplinary action if he takes part in the seminar defying the AICC directive.


Thomas, once a close confidant of Congress chief Sonia Gandhi, said the KPCC could not expel him from the party as he is an All India Congress Committee (AICC) member and only the high command could take any such decision. 


(With inputs from PTI.)