Congress Leader PT Thomas Dies at 71

NEW DELHI: PT Thomas, a renowned Congress politician and MLA, died on Wednesday following a brief illness at the Christian Medical College in Vellore, Tamil Nadu, according to his family. He was 71 years old at the time.

Thomas was a skilled orator and strategist who was well-known for taking firm stands on important subjects. His wife and two children survive him.

He endorsed the Madhav Gadgil Committee report on the Western Ghats, emphasising the need of protecting the Ghats' fragile environment, fearing the church's wrath. He was a sitting MP from Idukki at the time, but he was denied a seat due to religious protests. He was twice elected to the assembly seat of Thrikkakara.

Thomas, who was formerly mentored by A K Antony, served as the working president of the Kerala Congress and was credited with grooming a future leaders in the state.

Governor Arif Mohammad Khan, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi all expressed their condolences on the politician's death. Governor Khan observed, "He has endeared himself to the people as a dynamic and passionate leader and politician." 

Vijayan added, "The state has lost a great legislator and orator." "He will be remembered for being a brilliant and helpful man," Rahul said in his sympathy message.

Thomas got his start in politics with the Kerala Students' Union, the Congress's student wing, and went on to become the state Youth Congress's president. After that, he was elected to the All India Congress Committee, then to the parliament, and lastly to the legislature.

Thomas ordered that his favourite song, "Chandra kalambam charthi urungam theeram...", written by late poet Vayalar Rama Verma, be played instead of religious formalities, wreaths, and state funerals on his most recent trip. 

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