THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: K V  Thomas, a former senior Congress leader, who had defied the party leadership and joined hands with the Pinarayi Vijayan-led Left Democratic Front last year, was appointed to a cabinet-rank position in New Delhi on Thursday.

At the weekly cabinet meeting held here, presided over by Vijayan, his nomination was approved. Thomas, a former union minister as well, will represent Kerala specifically in Delhi.

The 77-year-old veteran Congressman served five terms in the Lok Sabha, twice in the Kerala Assembly, and was a cabinet member in the A.K. Antony government in addition to serving as a Union Minister in the second UPA administration.

His time in the Congress was numbered after he was formally ousted from important party positions for attending the 23rd CPI(M) party Congress on April 10 in Kannur despite Sonia Gandhi, the AICC president at the time, ordering him to leave.

And his ouster came when he attended the first election rally of the CPI(M)-led Left at the Thrikkakara by-election on May 12, 2022r held at Kochi and heaped praises on Vijayan.

Thomas was referred to be the "modern-day Judas" at the time by several party leaders who had been his longstanding coworkers because of his defiance of the party hierarchy.

Although his popularity appeared to be increasing at the time, Thomas stopped appearing in public when the Congress candidate won Thrikkakara by a large margin. His elevation to Delhi by the Pinarayi Vijayan govt is being seen as a new lease of life and by posting him to New Delhi, where he has great influence, Vijayan felt he could help Kerala's needs when it comes to politicking, for which Thomas is known for.

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