K. V. Thomas Age, Caste, Wife, Children, Family, Biography & More
Quick Info→
Age: 77 Years
Hometown: Kumbalangi, Kochi
Wife: Sherly Thomas
Bio/Wiki | |
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Full name | Kuruppassery Varkey Thomas [1]Sixteenth Lok Sabha Members Bioprofile- K. V. Thomas |
Nickname(s) | Prof. Thomas, Thomas Mash, KVT [2]Google Books- For The Grains |
Profession(s) | Professor, Trade Unionist, Writer, Social Worker, Agriculturist, Politician |
Politics | |
Political Party | Indian National Congress |
Political Journey | • Joined the Indian National Congress in 1970 • Became a member of the Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (Kerala PCC) in 1977 • General Secretary of Ernakulam District Congress Committee from 1978 to 1987 • Member of the All India Congress Committee (AICC) in 1984 • President of the Ernakulam District Congress Committee from 1987 to 2001 • Elected as MP from Ernakulam Lok Sabha constituency in 1984, defeating A. A. Kochunny (of the Indian Congress (Socialist) party) by 70,324 votes • Served as an AICC observer for Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Lakshadweep • Member of Committee on Official Language • Member of Library Committee • Member of the Committee on Subordinate Legislation from 1984 to 1989 • Member of the Consultative Committee on the Ministry of Civil Aviation, Ministry of Tourism, and Ministry of Defence from 1984 to 1996 • Re-elected as MP from Ernakulam Lok Sabha constituency in 1989, defeating independent candidate P. Subramnoian Poti by 36,465 votes • Member of the Joint Committee on Salaries and Allowances of Members of Parliament from 19 January 1990 to 7 August 1990 • Member of the Consultative Committee on the Ministry of Civil Aviation in 1990 • Re-elected as MP from Ernakulam Lok Sabha constituency in 1991, defeating V. Viswanatha Menon, a candidate of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPI(M)), by 47,144 votes • Treasurer of Kerala PCC from 1992 to 1997 • Elected MLA from the Ernakulam Assembly constituency in 2001, defeating the independent candidate Sebastian Paul by 11844 votes • Minister of Tourism, Excise Minister, and Minister for Fisheries (2001-2004) in the Kerala Legislative Assembly • Re-elected MLA from the Ernakulam Assembly constituency from the Ernakulam Assembly constituency, defeating CPI(M) candidate M M Lowranace by 5800 votes • Re-elected MP from the Ernakulam Lok Sabha in 2009 seat defeating the CPI(M) candidate Sindhu Joy by 11,790 votes • Union Minister of State in the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare and Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution from 27 May 2009 and 18 January 2011 • Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) in Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution • Member of Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs • Member of Cabinet Committee on Prices • 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 related 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 • Re-elected MP from the Ernakulam Lok Sabha constituency. defeating the independent candidate Christy Fernandez by 87,047 votes • 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 |
Awards, Honours, Achievements | • Awarded Best Tourism Minister by Pacific Asia Travel Writer’s Association (PATWA) (2003) • Recognised as Ambassador for Peace by Universal Peace Federation (2005) |
Personal Life | |
Date of Birth | 10 May 1946 (Friday) |
Age (as of 2023) | 77 Years |
Birthplace | Kumbalangi, Kochi, India |
Zodiac sign | Taurus |
Nationality | Indian |
Hometown | Kumbalangi, Kochi, India |
School | St. Peter’s Higher Secondary School, Kumbalangi, Ernakulam |
College/University | Sacred Heart College, Kochi, Kerala |
Educational Qualification | Master of Science in Chemistry [3]Sixteenth Lok Sabha Members Bioprofile- K. V. Thomas |
Religion/Religious Views | K. V. Thomas is follower of Latin Christianity (also known as Roman Christianity). [4]The Times of India He hails from the Kochi diocese of the Latin Community. [5]The Times of India |
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 |
Hobbies | Fishing, Listening to music, Reading books, Writing, Gardening, Playing chess and badminton |
Controversies | Surya TV forgery case An intelligence report was faxed to the Chief Minister A. K. Antony’s office in 2002, allegedly linking the Tourism and Fisheries Minister K. V. Thomas to Rs 330 crore hawala scam. The event made headlines when a reporter of Surya TV named Anil Nambiar beemed the letter on his channel accusing Thomas of participating in the scam. However, A. K. Antony later declared that it was a forged document. After a month, Anil Nambiar confessed that it was the Congress MLA Sobhana George who had lent him the fraudulent document. Soon after, a non-bailable arrest warrant was issued for the arrest of Sobhana George. However, the court held that Sobhana was a victim of groupism among the Congress Party and ruled out the case against her. [6]The New Indian Express Corruption Charges A PIL was filed against K. V. Thomas in the High Court of Kerala in 2003 by a member of the rival faction alleging that Thomas had undervalued his property at Kallancherry in nearby Kumbalangi island. Additionally, the PIL alleged that the toll at the bridge in Thoppumpady in Kochi was being collected by an unnamed company of Thomas. Another accusation listed in the PIL read that he had bought three fishing boats in the name of his wife. [7]Gulf News Consequently, Thomas submitted a counter-affidavit in the court claiming that charges levelled against him were fictitious and imaginary and were surfaced to achieve political gains. [8]The Times of India Disciplinary Action by Congress In April 2022, AICC decided to take disciplinary action against K V Thomas, who, despite being barred by INC, attended a seminar organised by CPM Party in Kannur. Thomas argued that the matter of centre-state relations (the topic of the seminar he attended) was a national issue; therefore, he felt the urge to attend it. Thereafter, the speculations about KV Thomas losing his official posts surfaced in the media. [9]Onmanorama |
Relationships & More | |
Marital Status | Married |
Marriage Date | 12 April 1970 |
Family | |
Wife/Spouse | Sherly Thomas (former teacher at Sacred Heart College, Kochi, who later started running a small distribution agency in consumer goods called Sherly’s with her daughter) |
Children | Son(s)-2 • Biju Thomas (elder; works as a Senior Director at Mashreq Bank, Dubai) • Joe Thomas (younger; serves as a doctor in the hospital Aster Medcity, Kerala) Daughter- Rekha Thomas (runs a small distribution agency in consumer goods called Sherly’s with her mother) |
Parents | Father- Kuruppassery Devassey Varkey Mother- Rosa Varkey (homemaker) |
Siblings | Brother- Joseph Kuruppassery |
Money Factor | |
Assets/Properties | Movable Assets • Cash: Rs 1,25,000 • Deposits in Banks, Financial Institutions and Non-Banking Financial Companies: Rs 41,51,959 • Motor Vehicles: Rs 9,13,251 • Jewellery: Rs 1,00,000 • 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 (Myneta.info)) |
Net Worth (approx.) | Rs 1,40,72,754 [10]Myneta.info |
Some Lesser Known Facts About K. V. Thomas
- K. V. Thomas is an Indian professor, trade unionist, writer, social worker, agriculturist, and politician.
- Before venturing into politics, K. V. Thomas served as a professor at Sacred Heart College, Kochi in the Department of Chemistry for 33 years. He retired from the college as the Head of the Department of Chemistry.
- In 2004, he began his journey as a writer when he published the Malayalam language book titled ‘Ente Kumbalangi,’ which centred around his native village, Kumbalangi.
Later, he published numerous Malayalam language books including Kumbalangi Flash, Sonia Priyankari, Villaku Marangal, and For The Grains.
- Although K. V. Thomas wanted to contest the 2019 Lok Sabha polls from the Ernakulam Lok Sabha constituency, INC denied him the party ticket. Thereafter, the party fielded Hibi Eden from the constituency. Eden won the elections defeating CPI(M) candidate P. Rajeev.
- In 2022, CPM state secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan accused Congress of neglecting and sidelining leaders like K V Thomas, which belonged to minority communities. Balakrishnan cited the speech that Rahul Gandhi delivered in Jaipur in which he encouraged the establishment of a rule of Hindus in India after expelling the Hindutva government from the Centre. [11]The Times of India
- In 2022, while Thomas was anticipating his removal from the state political affairs committee and the executive committee of KPCC, Kodiyeri Balakrishnan (from CPM) assured him political asylum if Congress ousted him. Thomas rejected the offer extended by Balakrishnan 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.”
- He is fond of fishing, listening to music, reading books, writing, and gardening. In his leisure, he also likes to play chess and badminton.
- He owns a Honda City.
- Thomas is an avid dog lover and has a pug named Archie. He posts various pictures with Archie on his social media account.
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