KOZHIKODE: The BJP is relying on union minister Alphons Kannanthanam and Kerala Congress (Thomas) leader P.C. Thomas, an NDA ally, to win the confidence of Christian groups in the state. Mr Thomas has already been in action in the Christian belts of northern districts like Kannur, Wayanad and Kozhikode. Both Mr Kannanthanam and Mr Thomas would join the various agitations across the state and also identify issues to be addressed in minority areas.
Mr Thomas was involved in many issues in Wayanad, including the man-animal conflict, alternative road to Wayanad ghats, the step- motherly attitude of the LDF government in executing the Wayanad rail project and the denial of justice to farmer Kanjirathinal George, who died in an orphanage after the forest department denied his right over 12 acres of land he had bought with title deeds. The action councils of all the causes have been utilising the legal services of Mr Thomas in a series of cases. Mr Thomas had approached the High Court on the cause of the farmer and also the denial of funds to DMRC for preparing a detailed project report for the rail project.
He told DC that the Church organizations were cooperating with him in various issues across the state. Under his leadership, a state-level action council would be formed to coordinate the agitation for Nanjangud-Nilambur railway project through Wayanad. Mr Thomas said that the leaders of two action councils, T.M. Rasheed of Wayanad and Dr Biju of Nilambur action council would be part of the state-level action council which would hold a programme in Ernakulam in the first week of October. A state-level coordination committee would be formed at the function. Mr Kannanthanam and DMRC principal advisor E. Sreedharan are expected to participate in it. Mr Thomas inaugurated the meeting of leaders and workers of Nilambur-Nanjangud railway at Sulthan Bathery on Monday.
