Thiruvananthapuram

Kerala NCP-SP legislator Thomas K. Thomas announced on Monday that he will request a judicial investigation into allegations made by LDF legislator Antony Raju, who accused him of attempting to bribe legislators to defect. Thomas plans to submit a letter to Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, asserting that Raju’s claims are baseless.

Raju alleged that Thomas offered him and another MLA ₹50 crores each to join the Nationalist Congress Party faction led by Ajit Pawar. In response, Thomas vehemently denied any wrongdoing and expressed his willingness to take a lie detector test. He also offered to allow a forensic examination of his mobile phone to prove his innocence.

I challenge Raju to take a lie detection test as well, Thomas said, suggesting that Raju’s accusations were part of a conspiracy to damage his reputation ahead of a possible Cabinet reshuffle. There is speculation that Thomas might be considered to replace State Forest Minister A.K. Saseendran.

Sources revealed that Thomas had been cleared for a Cabinet position during a meeting involving party leaders, including Sharad Pawar and P.C. Chacko. However, following Raju’s allegations, the Chief Minister has delayed finalizing Thomas’s entry into the Cabinet.