Bengaluru/Thiruvananthapuram, Nov 23 The national leadership of the Janata Dal (S) on Friday decided to replace Mathew T. Thomas, State Minister for Water Resources, with party veteran K. Krishnankutty, said a national leader of the party in Bengaluru.

Speaking to the media in Bengaluru, party general secretary Danish Ali said he has informed the Left Democratic Front convenor A. Vijayaraghavan that an official statement would be issued soon.

"Thomas has accepted the decision of the national leadership," said Ali.

The JD (S) is the third largest ally of the CPI-M-led government and has three legislators Thomas, former State Minister C.K. Nanu and K. Krishnankutty.

However, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan told the media in the state capital that he too has heard the news of this on the TV.

But Thomas said that he was pained by the decision of the national leadership.

"I always functioned in the most proper way even though I faced personal attacks. Yet I will always be with the party," said Thomas.

JD (S) National President and former Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda has called his three legislators to Bengaluru yesterday, but Thomas did not turn up and the meeting with the others took place on Friday when the decision was taken.

The present impasse in the JD (S) began when the Pinarayi Vijayan government completed its two-and-a-half years in office.

Nanu had earlier told the media in Bengaluru that the national leadership had told them there was an agreement that Thomas would relinquish the ministership in Krishnankutty's favour once the government completed the half-way mark of its 5-year term.

Speaking to the media in Bengaluru, minister-designate Krishnankutty said all the things have been sorted out and that he will always take the help of Thomas.

"There are no major issues in the party and things are fine. I will seek his help when I become a minister ," said Krishnankutty.

In Kerala LDF, JD (S) minister Thomas to be replaced by Krishnankutty