The Congress unit in Kerala appears to have rebel former president K Sudhakaran MP on its hands when the party high command meets next week to finalize candidates for the state assembly elections. Mr. Sudhakaran, a veteran of Kannur politics, reportedly “walked out of Delhi in anger” against the All India Congress Committee’s (AICC) decision to bar MPs from contesting the Kerala assembly elections.
Mr. Sudhakaran’s alleged “hurried return” to Kannur during the Parliament session appeared to have acquired some political context, given his statement last week that he would “100 per cent” contest the assembly polls from Kannur.
Associated with Kannur
He fueled further speculation of an impending Congress revolt in Kannur by emotionally recalling his “visceral bond” with the district in a viral Facebook post.
Mr. Sudhakaran said Kannur’s soil was soaked with the blood of Congress martyrs who succumbed to Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPI(M)) violence and the faces of the “glorious dead” remained etched in his mind.
Posters for support
Soon, posters supporting Mr. Sudhakaran, touted by his loyalists in Kannur as an iron leader strong enough to take on the CPI(M), appeared at several places in the assembly segment. Several Congress workers thronged his home and declared their loyalty in front of television news cameras.
Mr. Sudhakaran’s “mutiny” appears to have shaken the Congress’s efforts to present a united face amid the riots. For the party leadership, it raised the specter of more MPs aspiring for a role in provincial politics. Mr. Sudhakaran did not elaborate on the context of the Facebook post. However, the timing of the post has cast an element of uncertainty over the Congress’ selection of candidates.
Satheesan’s attitude
Leader of Opposition VD Satheesan tried to play down the matter. “Mr. Sudhakaran has distanced himself from the Facebook post. It is customary for MPs to leave for their constituencies on Fridays during the Lok Sabha session,” he said. KPCC president Sunny Joseph, MLA, said Mr. Sudhakaran remained loyal to the party. Meanwhile, Congress insiders said the AICC might give weight to the candidate preferred by Mr. Sudhakaran for Kannur. However, they were equivocal on whether Mr Gandhi had summoned Mr Sudhakaran to Delhi for talks.
Published – 13 March 2026 21:04 IST
