In a major development for the Kerala unit of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), Thomas K. Thomas, the MLA from Kuttanadu, has been appointed as the state president of the Sharad Pawar faction. The decision, made at a meeting in Mumbai chaired by national president Sharad Pawar, marks a new leadership direction for the party in Kerala.

Minister A. K. Saseendran played a pivotal role in advocating for Thomas K. Thomas' selection as president. The move came shortly after P.C. Chacko resigned from his position as the state president, although he will continue to serve as the national working president of the NCP.

What happened

Chacko’s resignation, submitted last Wednesday, followed growing pressure from Saseendran’s supporters. This came after Saseendran’s faction had been actively gathering signatures in a bid to push through a motion to remove Chacko during a state council meeting. Chacko’s unexpected resignation concluded a series of tense developments within the party.

Efforts by Chacko to reshuffle the state cabinet, including attempts to replace Saseendran with Thomas K. Thomas as minister, were met with strong opposition from Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan. This resistance undermined Chacko’s position within the party, ultimately isolating him as Thomas K. Thomas sided with Saseendran’s faction. Chacko, who had earlier defected from Congress, now faces diminished influence within the NCP.