Thiruvananthapuram, March 22 (IANS): Kerala's Director General of Police Jacob Thomas, currently in suspension since December 2017, has put in his papers so as to to contest the Lok Sabha elections.

Thomas had another 18 months to go for retirement. The resignation has been forwarded to Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan's office and to the Centre.

According to Sabu M. Jacob, Managing Director of Anna-Kitex group of companies, based near here, who spearheads the Twenty20 Kizhakkambalam, a corporate social responsibility initiative of the Rs 1,500 crore Anna-Kitex, told IANS that Thomas will contest under the Twenty 20 banner from Chalakudy in Thrissur district .

Nineteen members of Twenty20 contested the Kizhakkambalam Panchayat elections in 2015 as independents, where the company is based, and 17 of them won.

Thomas was once the reputed blue-eyed boy of Vijayan. But he was suspended in 2017 on charges of violating the All India Service Rules.

Thomas is expected to announce his candidature on Sunday.