THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The state unit of the Janata Dal (S) has decided to sever ties with the party's national leadership and form a new political party. It was JDS state president Mathew T Thomas MLA who announced this. He said that the new name of the party will be registered soon. The decision will be taken after examining legal matters related to the formation of the party. Mathew T Thomas stated that his party will remain in the LDF and will think about merging with the national unit if it severs its ties with the BJP. He also said that the party is not thinking of merging with RJD.

Many, including opposition parties, had come down heavily on the state unit of the JDS after the party's national president and former Karnataka Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy became a minister in the third Modi government.