Kochi: In a dramatic shift from the khaki of the Kerala Police to the khaki pants of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), former Director General of Police (DGP) Jacob Thomas on Wednesday formally joined the RSS as a full-time 'pracharak'.

The 65-year-old retired officer was officially inducted during an RSS 'padhasanchalan' (route march) at Pallikkara in Ernakulam district, where he appeared in the organisation’s traditional uniform, known as 'Ganavesham'.

Thomas, who revealed that his association with the RSS dates back decades, said he had long maintained ties with its leadership, including 'sarsanghchalak' Mohan Bhagwat. He said he was drawn to the discipline and selfless service of the cadre, describing the RSS as unmatched in dedication and devotion to the nation.

Once considered a close aide of Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, Jacob Thomas was appointed director of Vigilance in 2016, the day Pinarayi Vijayan assumed office. But their relationship soured by 2018, leading to two suspensions. Although reinstated later, he was moved to head a near-defunct state public sector unit, Kerala State Metal Industries Ltd.

On the eve of his retirement in May 2020, Thomas made headlines by sleeping on the office floor as a symbolic gesture. Post-retirement, he joined the BJP and contested the 2021 Irinjalakuda Assembly seat, finishing third with around 33,000 votes.

With his induction into the RSS, Thomas’s political and ideological journey has now turned from policing in khaki to embracing the 'Ganavesham' of the Sangh.

IANS