THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The file of honorarium to KV Thomas appointed as special representative of Kerala in Delhi has been detained by the Finance Department. It is alleged that there is a political dimension behind the Finance Minister's detention of the file granting honorarium as he defended the allegations of the financial crisis and revenue arrears.

In the context of the UDF's round-the-clock strike protesting the hike in fuel tax and liquor cess in the state budget, it is suggested that the decision to grant an honorarium to KV Thomas is being delayed due to the fear that the opposition will use it as a political weapon. It is possible to take further steps after seeking the opinion of the Chief Minister's office to avoid controversy in the matter.

The decision to appoint KV Thomas as the state's special representative was taken in the cabinet meeting held on January 18th. The appointment was with cabinet rank. KV Thomas had requested the government in a letter that he did not want a monthly salary and that an honorarium was sufficient. According to this, the honorarium file received on February 9th came before Additional Chief Secretary Finance Vishwanath Sinha after various procedures and departmental discussions. The decision to return the file came when the Finance Minister's opinion was sought as the last step.

Senior leader KV Thomas left Congress after he shared the platform of the Left Front with Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan during the Thrikkakara by-election campaign. It is widely alleged that the file was returned to Finance Expenditure Secretary Sanjay Kaul fearing that in the current financial situation of the state, the grant of honorarium would lead to an attack by the opposition. The decision to delay the process came from the finance department amid the demand of KV Thomas to receive the honorarium from next month.