NCP crisis:Thomas expects decision on Wednesday, nonchalant Saseendran leaves decision to party

Kottayam, New Delhi: Kerala NCP leaders P.C. Chacko and Thomas K. Thomas met the party's national president Sharad Pawar regarding the reshuffling of ministers in Kerala. Both leaders expressed their dissatisfaction to Pawar over the failure to adhere to the earlier agreement regarding the change of ministership. The discussion with Pawar concluded late at night, following which Chacko and Thomas K. Thomas returned.

After the meeting, Thomas K. Thomas clarified that the subject of the reshuffle was not discussed and that the conversation was about party matters. He added that another meeting would take place on Wednesday. “I have told Sharad Pawar what I want to say. I am not someone who runs after ministerial posts; everything depends on the party’s decision. I expect positive news on Wednesday,” Thomas K. Thomas said. His first reaction upon reaching New Delhi was that there was a prior agreement regarding the ministerial change.

Meanwhile, Minister A.K. Saseendran said that he was unaware of any discussions regarding a reshuffle of ministerial posts in the NCP. “They will decide and let us know whether a reshuffle will happen,” he told Mathrubhumi News. He reiterated in Kottayam that he would act as per the party’s decision, as he has said multiple times before.

At the same time, CPM interim leader Prakash Karat also met NCP President Sharad Pawar. Karat was the first to leave after the discussions. Thomas K. Thomas has taken a stand to express his dissatisfaction regarding Saseendran’s refusal to adhere to the agreement on reshuffling ministerial positions, leaving it to the central leadership of the CPM and Sharad Pawar to decide after further discussions.

The NCP state executive meeting was held in Kochi the previous day. Out of the 150 executive members, 126 were present, and 123 demanded a reshuffle. They also questioned why the Chief Minister was still reluctant to remove A.K. Saseendran. It was initially expected that a decision on the reshuffle would be made after the byelections. However, members expressed concerns during the meeting about the continued delay, urging that the party's self-respect should not be compromised.

Only three members opposed the idea of reshuffling. The majority of the members who participated in the meeting called for immediate action. If a cabinet reshuffle does not occur soon, members argued that the NCP should stage a protest within the LDF front itself. They further emphasised that the protest should focus on withdrawing the current minister, A.K. Saseendran. The reverberations of this discussion have now reached Delhi, and it is expected that the central leadership of the party will end the crisis soon.