KV Thomas defends revelations in memoir; Padmaja says remarks on Karunakaran ‘unnecessary’
Kochi: Amid the controversy surrounding his autobiography ‘Kumbalangi Muthal Chenkotta Vare’, former Union Minister KV Thomas has come forward with an explanation. He said the book only contains truths known to him and that he never intended to hurt anyone. Thomas was responding to the criticism raised by Padmaja Venugopal against the book.
In the autobiography, Thomas has stated that in 2001, former Chief Minister K Karunakaran had wanted Padmaja to be made a candidate and had entrusted him to convey this to Sonia Gandhi instead of speaking to her directly. According to the book, Sonia Gandhi had replied: “Padmaja is leading a family life, so why try to bring her into politics through the backdoor?”
The book also claims that Sonia Gandhi was initially not in favour of appointing K Muraleedharan as the KPCC president in 2001, but eventually agreed for the smooth functioning of the UDF government.
It was against these revelations that Padmaja Venugopal reacted strongly. However, KV Thomas said there was no need for any controversy over the book.
“I have been writing diaries since my younger days, and the book has been written based on those notes. I am debted to the Leader (Karunakaran) and his family. I never intended to hurt either Padmaja or Muraleedharan. I did not mean to hurt anyone. Everything written in the book comes from my diary entries, so I have no need to answer anyone. Let the people decide whether there is truth in it or not,” he said.
Padmaja reacts strongly
Padmaja Venugopal has reacted strongly against the revelations made in KV Thomas’s book. She said the distance between K Karunakaran and PV Narasimha Rao was not because of the way names were addressed. She added that one should not write unnecessary things about a person just because they are no longer alive. Padmaja also claimed that Narasimha Rao feared Karunakaran might emerge as a contender for the Prime Minister’s post, and that was why he was defeated in Thrissur.
Padmaja’s words:
“K. V. Thomas’s book spoke very harshly against K Karunakaran. The book says that Sonia Gandhi and K Karunakaran drifted apart because of an issue involving me. No such incident ever happened. Just because a person has passed away, unnecessary things should not be written. It hurt me deeply. When someone who stood as my father’s most trusted aide says such things, many people may believe it. Based on what everyone told him, my father discussed the Chalakudy seat issue for me. I do not know whether he informed ‘Mash’ about it. Later, when another lobby opposed it, I told my father that I was withdrawing. I stepped back without any quarrel. Nothing more happened beyond that.”