Political intrigue on MLA’s complaint regarding “a plot to eliminate him” permeates debate in Kerala assembly

United Democratic Front (UDF) moved an adjournment motion seeking a discussion on Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Thomas K. Thomas, MLA’s complaint that a plot was afoot in his party to eliminate him.

An uncanny storyline seemingly teeming with political intrigue played out theatrically in the Kerala Legislative Assembly during Zero Hour on Tuesday.

The Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) opposition sought to put the government in an awkward position by moving an adjournment motion seeking a discussion on ruling front ally and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Thomas K. Thomas, MLA’s sensational police complaint that a plot was afoot in his party to eliminate him.

The UDF also seemed intent on portraying the ruling alliance as a hive of conspiring allies and fratricidal politicians.

It also sought to drive a wedge in the NCP, a minor Left Democratic Front (LDF) ally with two MLAs, by rallying behind Mr. Thomas.

Mr. Thomas, representing the Kuttanad constituency in the Alappuzha district, had petitioned the police that a senior NCP leader based in Alappuzha had conspired with his driver to kill the legislator by staging a road accident involving a truck.

A day after, on August 8, the NCP national president Sharad Pawar removed Mr. Thomas from the party’s working committee citing “indiscipline”.

Congress legislator M. Vincent, who tabled the motion, said it was odd that Mr. Thomas’s party colleague, Forest Minister A.K. Saseendran dismissed Mr. Thomas’s complaint as “immature.”