K. V. Thomas is an Indian professor, trade unionist, writer, social worker, agriculturist, and politician.
Wiki/Biography
Kuruppassery Varkey Thomas was born on Friday, 10 May 1946 (age 76 years; as of 2022) in Kumbalangi, Kochi, India. His zodiac sign is Taurus. He did his schooling at St. Peter’s Higher Secondary School, Kumbalangi, Ernakulam. He pursued a Master of Science in Chemistry at Sacred Heart College, Kochi.
Family
Parents & Siblings
K. V. Thomas’ father’s name is Kuruppassery Devassey Varkey. His mother, Rosa Varkey, was a homemaker. His elder brother’s name is Joseph Kuruppassery.
K. V. Thomas’ parents
Wife & Children
On 12 April 1970, K. V. Thomas got married to Sherly Thomas, a former teacher at Sacred Heart College, Kochi.
K. V. Thomas with his wife, Sherly Thomas, on their wedding day
Together they have two sons and a daughter. His elder son Biju Thomas is working as a Senior Director at Mashreq Bank, Dubai. His daughter’s name is Rekha Thomas. K. V. Thomas’ wife and daughter run a small distribution agency in consumer goods called Sherly’s. His younger son Joe Thomas, serves as a doctor in the hospital Aster Medcity, Kerala.
K. V. Thomas with his wife, Sherly Thomas, and son Biju Thomas
A picture of K. V. Thomas with his wife, Sherly Thomas, and daughter, Rekha Thomas
K. V. Thomas with his wife, Sherly Thomas, his younger son Joe Thomas, and daughter-in-law Annu
Religion/Religious Views
K. V. Thomas follows Latin Christianity, also known as Roman Christianity. Thomas hails from the Kochi diocese of the Latin Community.
Address
Permanent Address
Prof. K.V. Thomas Road, Thoppumpady,
Kochi – 682 005, Kerala
Present Address
17, B.R. Mehta Lane, K.G. Marg,
New Delhi – 110 001
Career
As a Professor
He has 33 years of teaching experience at Sacred Heart College, Kochi in the Department of Chemistry. He retired as Head of the Department of Chemistry.
Writing
His first book, Ente Kumbalangi (2004), was about his native village Kumbalangi. A proficient writer, K. V. Thomas has published various books in the Malayalam language including:
- Ente Kumbalangiku Shesham
- Kumbalangi Touch
- Kumbalangi Flash
- Kumbalangi Varnamkal
- Ammayum Makanum
- Sonia Priyankari
- Ente Leader
- Order, Order, Order
- Villaku Marangal
- Kumbalaghi Kalidoscope
- For The Grains
Politics
In 1970, K. V. Thomas joined the Indian National Congress. He is a member of the Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (Kerala PCC). From 1978 to 1987, he held the position of General Secretary of Ernakulam District Congress Committee. From 1987 to 2001, he served as the president of the Ernakulam District Congress Committee. Since 1984, he is a member of the All India Congress Committee (AICC). From 1992 to 1997, he was the Treasurer of Kerala PCC. In April 2022, AICC cracked the whip against Thomas and issued a notice to him for going against the party line. Thomas faced the expulsion threat from INC for attending a seminar organised by CPM Party in Kannur despite INC’s disapproval. Thomas had insisted on participating in the Centre-State relations seminar citing that it was a national issue. Also, Thomas was upset with the party since he was denied the Rajya Sabha seat. Thereafter, Thomas was removed from the state political affairs committee and the executive committee of KPCC.
As a Member of Parliament
1984 Indian General Elections
In 1984, K. V. Thomas, on a ticket from the Indian National Congress, contested from the Ernakulam Lok Sabha constituency. He won the elections defeating A. A. Kochunny, a candidate of the Indian Congress (Socialist) party, by 70,324 votes. Thereafter, he was appointed as an AICC observer for Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Lakshadweep. He was also a member of the Committee on Official Language and Library Committee. From 1984 to 1989, he served as a member of the Committee on Subordinate Legislation. From 1984 to 1996, he was a member of the Consultative Committee on the Ministry of Civil Aviation, Ministry of Tourism, and Ministry of Defence.
1989 Indian General Elections
In 1989, K. V. Thomas, on a ticket from the Indian National Congress, contested from the Ernakulam Lok Sabha constituency. He won the elections defeating independent candidate P. Subramnoian Poti by 36,465 votes. From 19 January 1990 to 7 August 1990, he was a member of the Joint Committee on Salaries and Allowances of Members of Parliament. In 1990, he became a member of the Consultative Committee on the Ministry of Civil Aviation.
1991 Indian General Elections
In 1991, K. V. Thomas, on a ticket from the Indian National Congress, contested from the Ernakulam Lok Sabha constituency. He won the elections defeating V. Viswanatha Menon, a candidate of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPI(M)), by 47,144 votes.
2009 Indian General Elections
In 2009, K. V. Thomas, on a ticket from the Indian National Congress, contested from the Ernakulam Lok Sabha constituency. He won the elections defeating the CPI(M) candidate Sindhu Joy by 11,790 votes. Between 27 May 2009 and 18 January 2011, he served as a Union Minister of State in the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare and Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution. In January 2011, he assumed the position of Union Minister of State (independent charge) in the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution. The MP served as a member of the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs and Cabinet Committee on Prices. Other positions held by him include:
- Member of Group of Ministers on Agreement on Trade in Goods under the Comprehensive Economic co-operation Agreement (CECA)
- Member of Group of Ministers (GOM) regarding review of the Fertilizer Policy
- Member of Group of Ministers to consider issues relating to World Trade Organisation
- Member of Core Group of Central Ministers and State Chief Ministers regarding prices of Essential Commodities
- Member of Empowered Group of Ministers to review the situation and take quick and timely decisions on policy issues as well as on other issues for effective management of drought and issues
- Member of Empowered Group of Ministers to consider issues concerning procurement Management of food grain stocks, revision of Central issue prices of food grains and the proposed law on Food Security
2014 Indian General Elections
In 2014, K. V. Thomas, on a ticket from the Indian National Congress, contested from the Ernakulam Lok Sabha constituency. He won the elections defeating the independent candidate Christy Fernandez by 87,047 votes.
K. V. Thomas celebrating his victory in the 2014 general elections with his family
He served as:
- Member of Panel of Chairpersons in Lok Sabha from 9 June 2014 to 12 December 2014
- Member of the House Committee from 12 June 2014 to 22 August 2014
- Chairperson of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) from 14 August 2014 to 30 April 2017
- Member of Standing Committee on Urban Development
- Member of Consultative Committee on Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers
- Member of Committee on Scrutiny of Budget Estimate of Lok Sabha
- Member of General Purposes Committee
- Member of Joint Committee on the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement (Second Amendment) Bill, 2015
- Member of House Committee
2019 Indian General Elections
In 2019, INC denied the party ticket to K. V. Thomas to contest the 2019 Lok Sabha polls and fielded Hibi Eden from the Ernakulam Lok Sabha constituency; Hibi Eden won the elections defeating CPI(M) candidate P. Rajeev.
As a Member of the Legislative Assembly (Kerala)
2001 Kerala Legislative Assembly Elections
In 2001, K. V. Thomas, on a ticket from the Indian National Congress, contested from the Ernakulam Assembly constituency. He won the elections defeating the independent candidate Sebastian Paul by 11844 votes. As an MLA, he served as the Minister of Tourism, Excise Minister, and Minister for Fisheries (2001-2004).
2006 Kerala Legislative Assembly Elections
In 2006, K. V. Thomas, on a ticket from the Indian National Congress, contested from the Ernakulam Assembly constituency. He won the elections defeating CPI(M) candidate M M Lowranace by 5800 votes. Thomas resigned from his post as MLA when he was elected as an MP in the 2009 Lok Sabha polls.
Other Positions Held
- Chairman, Indira Gandhi Co-operative Hospital, Kochi, (1994-1996)
- President, 7th Ward Committee, Kumbalanghi (1970 -1975)
- Managing Trustee of Prof. K.V. Thomas Vidyadhanam Trust
- Organising Secretary, Indian National Trade Union Congress (INTUC), Kerala (1978 – 1984)
- General Secretary, INTUC, Kerala, (1984-1993)
- Director of Cochin International Airport
- Director of Marine Products Export Development Authority
- Member of Courts Jawaharlal Nehru University & Pondicherry University (1987-2001)
- Managing Director of JaiHind TV
- Chief Executive Officer of Veekshanam
Controversies
Surya TV forgery case
In 2002, an intelligence report was faxed to the then Chief Minister A. K. Antony’s office stating that K. V. Thomas, who was then serving as Tourism and Fisheries Minister in Antony’s government, was involved in a 366 crore Hawala transaction which took place in 1999–2000. The following day, the State Government declared that it was a forged document. A reporter of Surya TV named Anil Nambiar, who had flashed the letter on the channel, surrendered to the police after a month in hibernation and confessed that it was Congress MLA Sobhana George who had given him the document. Thereafter, a non-bailable arrest warrant was issued for the arrest of Sobhana George. It was later held that Sobhana was a victim of groupism among the Congress Party. In the end, the court ruled out this case as a purely fabricated case against Sobhana.
Corruption Charges
In 2003, a PIL was filed against K. V. Thomas in the High Court of Kerala by a member of the rival faction for various allegations including that Thomas had undervalued his property at Kallancherry in nearby Kumbalangi island, the toll at the bridge at Thoppumpady in Kochi, built in terms of BOT was collected by an unnamed company of Thomas, and that he had bought three sophisticated fishing boats in the name of his wife. Thereafter, K V Thomas submitted a counter-affidavit in the court claiming that charges levelled against him in the disproportionate assets case were fictitious and imaginary and were surfaced to achieve political gains.
Awards, Honours, Achievements
- Awarded Best Tourism Minister by Pacific Asia Travel Writer’s Association (PATWA) (2003)
- Recognised as Ambassador for Peace by the Universal Peace Federation Inter Religious and International Federation for World Peace (2005)
Asset & Properties
Movable Assets
- Deposits in Banks, Financial Institutions and Non-Banking Financial Companies: Rs 41,51,959
- Motor Vehicles: Rs 9,13,251
- Other assets, such as values of claims/interests: Rs 2,19,577
Immovable Assets
- Non-Agricultural Land: Rs 17,98,059
- Residential Buildings: Rs 87,52,639
Net Worth
As of 2019, his net worth is Rs 1,40,72,754.
Facts/Trivia
- In his leisure time, he likes to go fishing, listen to music, read books, write, and garden. He also likes to play chess and badminton.
K. V. Thomas planting flowers in his garden
- Thomas had represented the Ernakulam LS constituency five times and the assembly constituency twice in the past when he was denied a party ticket to contest the 2019 Lok Sabha polls. In 2022, Kodiyeri Balakrishnan alleged that leaders belonging to minority communities, including K V Thomas, were being neglected and sidelined in the Congress party. Balakrishnan cited Rahul Gandhi’s speech in Jaipur that called for the establishment of a rule of Hindus in the country after ousting the Hindutva government at the Centre.
- After Thomas was removed from the state political affairs committee and the executive committee of KPCC in 2022, CPM state secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan’s offered political asylum to him in the case Congress expelled him. Thomas rejected the offer saying,
Party positions are like tables and chairs. If that is taken away and I am given a stool, I have no problem with that. I will continue to remain a Congressman.”
- An avid dog lover, he has a pug named Archie.
K. V. Thomas with his wife, Sherly Thomas, grandson, and dog, Archie
- He is also referred to as Prof. Thomas, Thomas Mash, and KVT.