Bengaluru: Putting an end to all speculation, Kerala water resources minister Mathew T Thomas has been asked to step down. JD(S) national president and former Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda had given the approval for change of ministership in the party. Chittur MLA K Krishnan Kutty will become the minister.

There was internal bickering among leaders in the JD(S), which led this decision in 2016. JD(S) is the third largest ally of the CPM-led LDF government in Kerala. JD (S) national general secretary Danish Ali said a letter regarding this change would be given to the chief minister.

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State chief of the party K Krishnan Kutty will replace Thomas. Ali said Thomas has been informed to step down based on the decision of the national leadership. Though there are differences of opinion in the party, the JD(S) will not split at all, he said. 

The change is as per the deal made in 2016. There was an agreement that Thomas would relinquish the post in favour of Krishnan Kutty, once the government completed the halfway mark of its five-year term.

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Earlier, after a meeting with Deve Gowda, JD(S) leaders CK Nanu and Krishnan Kutty had said that Gowda had given the green signal for the agreement that ministership can be changed after two and half years of governance.

It is reported that Krishnan Kutty would take oath as the minister before the Legislative Assembly session commencing on November 27.