G. Sudhakaran, one of the most impressive faces of the CPI(M) in Alappuzha, has finally severed his 63-year political ties with the party and entered the fray as an independent from his home soil, Ambalappuzha, a move that is now sure to get support from the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF). His decision immediately stirred the waters and raised a more serious question: is this a one-off rebellion, or the first visible crack in a deeper fault line in the party?
Much now depends on whether Mr. Sudhakaran’s enduring citizen connect can mesh with the UDF election machinery. If so, the veteran could turn the competition on its head. A victory here would not only be personal redemption, but a symbolic dent in the left over the seat for two decades.
The 79-year-old leader, a two-time cabinet minister and four-time MLA, showed no sign of backing down. He stood firm and planned his departure as a matter of principle rather than policy. He insists that continuing in the CPI(M) was no longer possible in a climate that he says stifles fearless and honest political work. His decision to protest, he says, is rooted in his “stance against corruption” and what he describes as “the growing influence of criminal mafia elements in politics”.
When contacted, Mr. Sudhakaran’s response indicated a sense of personal and political alienation, despite his long proximity to the CPI(M) top leadership. His remark that Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has failed to “understand who I am” even after three decades of close cooperation underscores what he sees as a breakdown of internal political recognition and trust.
On connection with Pinarayi
“Even after working as the Chief Minister’s right-hand man, he made certain remarks about me in a press conference. I have always respected him very much and I will not speak against him personally,” Mr. Sudhakaran told The Hindu, adding that the current CPI(M) leadership risks becoming politically isolated.
He alleged that the CPI(M) in Alappuzha had come under the rule of “political criminals”. By framing his independent candidacy as an effort to promote “communist values”, Mr Sudhakaran is trying to place himself within the ideological continuum rather than outside it, capitalizing on what he portrays as growing disillusionment among the genuine cadre.
His emphasis on development, along with a campaign against political criminalization, corruption and the targeting of senior figures within the party, suggests an effort to recast the electoral contest as both a local development plan and a broader political intervention.
While murmurs of disapproval from other leaders have become more common in the CPI(M) in recent years, the confrontation between Mr. Sudhakaran and the CPI(M) is unusually large by any standards. The sharp and public war of words between him and the party signals a rift that runs deeper than personal clashes.
Expensive hesitation?
Political commentator J. Prabhash warns that similar episodes could have wider political implications. With assembly elections looming and whispers of anti-establishment already in the air, Mr. Prabhash warns that internal discord could dull the CPI(M)’s ability to go on the offensive against the UDF-led Congress.
“When Mr. Sudhakaran indicated that he was sidelined, the state leadership of the party had an opportunity to step in and defuse the situation. That moment has passed. What we are seeing now is the result of that hesitation,” observes Mr. Prabhash.
He contrasts the current situation with the tenure of the late Kodiyeri Balakrishnan and suggests that his political management skills may have contained such a flare-up. In Kannur, Palakkad and Alappuzha, they say, signs of tension are becoming harder to ignore, pointing to a leadership struggling to quell internal divisions.
Part of a wider churn
Political scientist KM Seethi, director of the Inter University Center for Social Science Research and Extension, MG University, reads Mr. Sudhakaran’s move as part of a wider movement in Kerala politics. Senior leaders across the parties, he notes, are increasingly unwilling to quietly retreat into the background. “There’s a visible impatience among veterans who feel taken out,” he says.
Mr. Seethi says the old control centers are not as cohesive as they used to be. “Even within the CPI(M), what was once perceived as a tight-knit power bloc is beginning to show signs of tension,” he notes, alluding to fissures in the so-called ‘Kannur lobby’.
Still, it tempers expectations. He argues that Mr. Sudhakaran’s stature alone may not be enough to sway voters decisively. “The CPI(M) will do everything possible to contain the damage. For Mr. Sudhakaran, the road to victory depends on something bigger falling into place, a strong wave against the government,” he says.
Published – 20 March 2026 21:09 IST
