‘I’m nonetheless in contact with Sonia… have good rapport with Modi’: Prof Okay V Thomas

By Express News Service

Prof Okay V Thomas had raised fairly a number of eyebrows when he received nearer to the LDF and have become the Kerala authorities’s particular consultant in Delhi. His heat relationships, past occasion strains, are his forte. And he’s making good use of it for the event of the state, he tells TNIE.

Your appointment because the state’s particular consultant in Delhi had been criticised as an additional burden on the exchequer. How do you view such criticisms?
All states in India have political representatives in Delhi. As a particular consultant, I’m entrusted with the duty of forming relationships, getting the tasks useful for the state authorized and smoothening the bumps and hurdles confronted throughout the implementation of the tasks. I had been doing such actions earlier than, too. Earlier, I had the liberty to do every thing by myself. But now, I’m answerable to the state authorities.

You mentioned the prime minister has an excellent equation with the chief minister. Could you please elaborate on that?
Yes, that’s true. The completion of GAIL has modified the Union authorities’s notion about Kerala. The undertaking was allotted to Gujarat and Kerala on the similar time. But even when Gujarat accomplished the undertaking, ours didn’t transfer even an inch ahead. Three CMs had tried and failed. But Pinarayi Vijayan may implement it. If it had not materialised, no different tasks would have come to Kerala.

We have heard former prime minister Manmohan Singh as soon as stood up and laughed over Kerala’s nationwide freeway progress….
Kerala as soon as introduced a joint memorandum earlier than the PM, requesting him to scale back the width of the nationwide freeway to 30m. I used to be additionally there together with then CM and V S Achuthanandan. After studying it, the PM stood up and laughed at our insistence on the 30m width. We are actually going to finish the identical undertaking at 60m width. Lots of issues are taking place now, and that has improved the Centre’s belief within the Kerala authorities.

What is going on with SilverLine?
We are attempting to get approval. Recent developments within the railway sector within the state, just like the arrival of Vande Bharat, weren’t profitable. Its arrival has triggered chaos; different providers are getting delayed. Even if we get a six-lane nationwide freeway, we’re in dire want of a high-speed rail system. There is not any politics on this. It might be seen that at any time when something new involves Kerala, it generates a whole lot of protests. But as soon as issues develop into clear, the undertaking takes off. The similar will occur with SilverLine, too.

So will there be one other spherical of discussions with the Centre?
Yes, there will probably be.

It is essential to have an excellent relationship with the ruling occasion whereas working as a particular consultant of the state. How good is your equation with the BJP?
I’ve huge relationships of my very own, past politics. I’ve had an excellent equation with Narendra Modi, Nitin Gadkari and J P Nadda for a very long time.

You talked about Gadkari. It is alleged he has a particular affection for Kerala. Is this true?
Yes. Gadkari has a particular curiosity in direction of our state, particularly in direction of the chief minister. He has overtly expressed it. He mentioned many instances that Pinarayi Vijayan is a chief minister who ‘does things’. Gadkari is entrusted with the duty of finishing the nationwide freeway for sure kilometres earlier than the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. And, he’s very severe about that.

How in regards to the PM’s method to Kerala?
The PM’s method in direction of Kerala can also be good. For me, it’s not a troublesome matter to get an appointment with the prime minister. I’ve an excellent rapport with him, and our friendship started years in the past, in 2001. When I used to be the fisheries minister of the state, I used to contact him as he was then Gujarat CM on the problems associated to the 1000’s of girls employees who went to Gujarat for fish peeling jobs. Then, once I dealt with the meals and civil provides portfolio on the Centre, he was the chairman of the meals materials worth deciding committee. Later, he grew to become PM and I used to be appointed Parliamentary Affairs Committee chairman underneath him. So our relationship goes a good distance.

Have you met the PM throughout the previous two years, after taking cost because the particular consultant?
Yes. I’ve met him many instances after my appointment in New Delhi.

You have labored with Okay Karunakaran, Oommen Chandy, and Pinarayi Vijayan. How do you assess these leaders?
The three are totally different. ‘Leader’ [Karunakaran] was like a father to me. He had a particular affection for me. Oommen Chandy is a folks’s chief. He is at all times surrounded by a minimal of fifty folks. So, we are able to’t meet him privately. Pinarayi is stern, however has affection in his thoughts. He has sturdy will energy and conviction. Like Karunakaran, Pinarayi, too, might be utterly trusted. If they each give a phrase, that will probably be accomplished.

Of late, we have now seen the Congress occasion in Kerala oppose improvement tasks for the sake of opposition. How do you see this?
This is a Kerala phenomenon that we have now been seeing throughout political events. Even if the tasks are for the general improvement of the state, pointless protests and opposition are created. In truth, each the Congress and the Left are culpable in creating this unfavourable mindset in direction of improvement.

Can you elaborate?
Remember the opposition to the CIAL airport, Kochi Metro undertaking, and the Vypeen and Ernakulam bridges? When the airport got here, they mentioned I purchased all of the land close to the proposed airport. When a brand new constructing comes up within the stretch from Thrissur to Ernakulam, they’d say that it belongs to Murali (Karunakaran’s son and Congress chief Okay Muraleedharan). So, such baseless allegations would come and go, however can we withdraw from a undertaking simply due to these form of rumours?

What’s taking place to Congress in Kerala? Even after repeated failures, the occasion appears clueless in regards to the technique to be adopted within the state…
When the occasion was led by Leader Karunakaran and A Okay Antony, there have been teams. But at any time when the group rivalry threatened the occasion, they’d each come collectively and take a unanimous determination. And that will be the ultimate determination. Can we see that now? There are teams inside teams (chuckles).

How many teams are there now?
You rely them for your self (laughs).

Are you in contact with the present crop of Congress leaders?
Yes, I’m in contact with Sudhakaran, Ramesh and Satheesan.

Have you not been suspended from the occasion?
No. Who can droop me from the occasion? Only AICC can. And they haven’t accomplished it. I used to be formally invited for the Raipur AICC assembly. But I instructed them I’d not come because the native management will not be eager on me.

You labored as a minister within the Manmohan Singh authorities, after which as PAC chairman underneath Narendra Modi. How have been the experiences of working underneath the 2 prime ministers?
The two have utterly totally different personalities. Dr Manmohan Singh had a clear-cut financial outlook for the nation. He will not be a politician; he’s an economist. His political outlook was at all times guided by the choices taken by the Congress occasion and Madam (Sonia) Gandhi. Even if he had totally different views on political issues, ultimately, he would abide by the occasion’s determination. India’s prosperity and progress that we’re seeing right this moment are the results of his contributions. Narendra Modi doesn’t know economics, however he is aware of politics. He is an effective orator, however most of his selections should not good for the nation. I can say this as a result of I’ve pointed this out to him immediately.

There have been rumours that the BJP had approached you…
Nobody has approached me, neither the CPM nor the BJP.

How did the brand new put up as Kerala’s particular consultant in Delhi come about?
The CM referred to as me. We had some preliminary discussions earlier on Kerala’s developmental politics and what I may do for the state. I can’t sit idle; I’m a workaholic. Delhi is my place, not Thiruvananthapuram or Kochi. I’ve a number of buddies in Delhi, throughout political events.

Your adversaries mock you with the nickname ‘Thirutha Thoma’. How do you react to such jibes?
I’ll inform you what occurred. During Indira Gandhi’s time, when Leader Karunakaran was on the helm, an inventory would come from Delhi in regards to the objects to be despatched from Kerala. Fish would even be there. Leader requested me to ship some objects to Indiraji, and I did so. The follow continued throughout different prime ministers’ instances, too. And, Sonia Gandhi doesn’t eat ‘thirutha’ (gray mullet) fish! During election time, my detractors would provide you with such phrases. I don’t take them significantly. I come from a neighborhood which believes in sharing.

It is alleged that Congressmen are behind such name-calling…
Yes. I’ve mentioned this overtly. When some folks have been denied seats, they took out a procession with ‘thirutha’ fish.

Have you ever despatched ‘thirutha’ to Sonia Gandhi’s home?
I’ve despatched a number of issues to her, however not ‘thirutha’ (chuckles).

It was mentioned that your daughter was eyeing a seat to contest within the final election. Is that true?
My kids have little interest in coming into politics. My elder son is the CEO of Mashreq Bank. My daughter has additionally accomplished very effectively within the meals sector for the previous 25 years. My youngest son is a well known physician in Kochi in rheumatology.

What is your view on Anil Okay Antony becoming a member of the BJP?
I’ve an excellent relationship with him. Anil has his personal imaginative and prescient, and he is an effective individual. This is politics. Just as a result of A Okay Antony follows a political ideology, no one can say that his son also needs to comply with the identical.

Senior leaders like Ghulam Nabi Azad and also you needed to go away Congress due to the rise of Rahul Gandhi. Is that proper?
We are folks from older generations. We recognize love and affection. We maintained an in depth relationship with Rajiv Gandhi, Sonia Gandhi, and Ahmed Patel. It was like a household. Today, that’s misplaced within the Congress. Rahul belongs to the brand new technology.

After the thumping victory within the Karnataka meeting election, is the Congress making a comeback in Indian politics?
If the Congress stands united, nobody can defeat it. Assembly elections are arising in Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, and Madhya Pradesh. If it stands united, victory is certain. There is a risk of a grand opposition alliance towards the Narendra Modi-led BJP within the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. But a coalition authorities wants good management if it needs consistency. Then solely the federal government can transfer ahead.

Among the Congress leaders from Kerala, you have been closest to Sonia Gandhi. Has the Catholic connection received to do something with that?
No. There is not any spiritual angle in our relationship. Sonia Gandhi won’t ever see issues on a neighborhood foundation. Sonia Gandhi is a real Indian lady. It reveals in her sense of dressing and dignity.

Do you continue to preserve an in depth relationship with the Nehru-Gandhi household now?
Yes, and I’ll at all times be grateful to her. The Gandhi household is behind my progress. I’ve gratitude in direction of Sonia Gandhi and the Gandhi household. However, I’ve no such reference to Rahul Gandhi. The purpose stands out as the distinction in ages.

Is Sonia Gandhi sad together with your change?
No, I don’t consider so. We are nonetheless in contact.

You have been an MLA, MP, minister… Congress employees ask what extra would you like….
Politics will not be a job or employment; it’s about acknowledgement. It’s not like being appointed as a clerk first after which promoted to the superintendent’s put up. That’s not politics. It’s not employment for me. Madam Sonia trusted me and assigned me to implement meals security measures, and that’s an acknowledgement for me.

You had an in depth relationship with Karunakaran. But when DIC(Okay) was fashioned, you parted methods…
I had a distinction of opinion with Leader whereas forming DIC (Okay). In my total political profession, two folks I’m grateful to are Madam Sonia Gandhi and Leader. After the 2001 election, [A K] Antony got here into energy. Leader had his causes for not cooperating with Antony. We instructed him that Antony was able to defending Murali. But he didn’t belief him. The cabinet assembly was on Wednesdays, and he wished us to satisfy him on Tuesdays to debate the problems that will be introduced within the cabinet. I instructed him that was not acceptable. Since then, a small hole emerged in our relationship.

At current, what’s your political place?
As of now, my sole accountability is to have a look at the event tasks in Kerala and do the needful from Delhi.

Your appointment because the state’s particular consultant in Delhi had been criticised as an additional burden on the exchequer. How do you view such criticisms?
All states in India have political representatives in Delhi. As a particular consultant, I’m entrusted with the duty of forming relationships, getting the tasks useful for the state authorized and smoothening the bumps and hurdles confronted throughout the implementation of the tasks. I had been doing such actions earlier than, too. Earlier, I had the liberty to do every thing by myself. But now, I’m answerable to the state authorities.
You mentioned the prime minister has an excellent equation with the chief minister. Could you please elaborate on that?
Yes, that’s true. The completion of GAIL has modified the Union authorities’s notion about Kerala. The undertaking was allotted to Gujarat and Kerala on the similar time. But even when Gujarat accomplished the undertaking, ours didn’t transfer even an inch ahead. Three CMs had tried and failed. But Pinarayi Vijayan may implement it. If it had not materialised, no different tasks would have come to Kerala.