The Congress high command has reportedly assured Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) president K. Sudhakaran that he will not be removed from his position anytime soon. Politics is rife with examples where, when diplomacy falters, threats prevail. This raises the question: did a perceived threat play a role in ensuring Sudhakaran’s continued tenure as KPCC president, staving off any imminent moves to unseat him?
However, a closer examination of recent developments suggests that multiple factors were at play, including the Congress party’s electoral performance since Sudhakaran and Opposition Leader V.D. Satheesan assumed leadership roles.
In 2021, shortly after the Congress suffered a defeat in the Assembly elections, Sudhakaran was chosen to replace Mullappally Ramachandran as KPCC president. At the time, his elevation was widely supported by leaders in Kerala. There was optimism that his Kannur-style aggressive politics would revitalize the Congress, rekindle party workers' confidence, and bring fresh dynamism to the party. Sudhakaran had promised to transform the Congress into a semi-cadre party, setting high expectations for his tenure.
Four years on, Sudhakaran’s track record as KPCC president has been a mixed bag. Some of his promises, including the semi-cadre structure, remain unfulfilled. Additionally, doubts and rumours about his health and physical ability to perform his duties have surfaced. Speculation about a potential leadership change in the KPCC also gained traction in the lead-up to the Lok Sabha elections.
However, no leadership change happened then. And, under K. Sudhakaran’s leadership, the Congress party performed well on the electoral front. The Congress-led UDF clinched 18 out of 20 Lok Sabha seats, and the party also secured victories in several fiercely contested bypolls.
Nevertheless, there has been a growing perception that Opposition leader V.D. Satheesan and KPCC President K. Sudhakaran are not on the same page. In the past, Sudhakaran has indirectly accused Satheesan of meddling in the party’s organizational matters. Recent developments, such as tensions in the party’s Political Affairs Committee (PAC) and the cancellation of a joint press conference meant to clarify PAC decisions, have further hinted at a widening rift between the two leaders.
Discussions and rumours about a potential successor to Sudhakaran have been circulating for over a month. And, in recent days, the party’s Kerala in-charge, Deepa Dasmunshi, has held one-on-one meetings with select leaders to gauge their opinions, which reportedly irritated Sudhakaran.
While denying any leadership change discussions, Sudhakaran criticized Dasmunshi’s approach, claiming that her meetings were not due to a lack of unity in the leadership but because she had failed to gain the confidence of party leaders. He also made a statement that he would neither cling to the KPCC president’s post.
Crucially, the support of senior leaders such as A.K. Antony and Ramesh Chennithala, who favoured Sudhakaran’s continuation as KPCC president, played a significant role in shaping today’s outcome.
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Notably, in recent days, Sudhakaran’s stance has also evolved, with him stating that he will not resign from his post until the next Assembly elections. He also suggested that he would resign even from his MP post. He also created a counter that if he is being removed, the Opposition leader should also step down. Reportedly, this view has been conveyed to the party’s Kerala in-charge by some leaders as well.
“Sudhakaran is a winning president. With local body elections fast approaching, on what grounds would the AICC consider replacing him?” observed senior journalist and political commentator George Pulikan. He added, “Certainly, there are concerns about the KPCC president’s health. However, this should not be conflated with the decision on whether he should continue in his role. If Sudhakaran has a health issue, he alone should be the one to address it. In fact, every other political factor appears favourable for his continuation.”
Notably, the high command’s latest position suggests that the party leadership is unlikely to make a decision about a leadership change without taking Sudhakaran into confidence. Furthermore, this decision seems to be influenced by factors beyond mere threats from the Kannur leader.
