KV Thomas slams UDF on Silverline rail project

KOCHI: Veteran Congress leader and former Union minister KV Thomas on Tuesday slammed opposition United Democratic Front (UDF) for vehemently opposing Silverline rail corridor project aimed at connecting Trivandrum to Kasaragod through a semi high speed train service.

“The UDF stand on the Silverline project is against the development of the state. If there are problems in the project, then they should be fixed.

“It was Rajiv Gandhi who came up with the idea of an express highway in the country,” Thomas told media persons here on Tuesday.

He said that it is not ideal to drag politics into the developmental initiatives.

“I support every development project in the state. There are problems with K-rail. However, it is something that can be resolved,” he said.

Thomas said his party (Congress) avoided him and failed to invite him to the UDF convention. Thomas reminded Congress leaders that he is still a member of All India Congress Commitee (AICC) and Kerala Pradesh Congress Commitee (KPCC) despite the rit among party leaders.

Thomas had earlier said that he will always be a Congressman.

Ater being denied party ticket on more than one occasion, Thomas is at loggerheads with the state leadership of Congress.

Defying a ban by national leadership, Thomas atended a seminar organised by ruling Communist Party of India - Marxist (CPIM) in Kannur, as part of Party Congress last month.

Congress leadership served him notice and is in the process of taking disciplinary action against the senior leader.

Thomas did not express any regret, but went on supporting the Let Democratic Front (LDF) led by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan.

Action against Thomas would have to wait until the bypoll in Thrikkakkara constituency, where Congress candidate Uma Thomas, wife of late PT Thomas, is locked in tough fight against LDF candidate Dr Jo Joseph.

The Silverline debate is taking a centre stage in the Thrikkakkara campaign and LDF is projecting itself as the champion of development while accusing UDF of being anti-development.