In a dramatic turn of events within the Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC), President K. Sudhakaran has publicly accused a faction within the party of orchestrating a deliberate campaign aimed at politically sidelining him. On May 4, 2025, Sudhakaran expressed his concerns in a strongly worded statement, claiming that rumors regarding his health are being spread maliciously, allegedly with the backing of a senior party leader. This revelation comes amidst rampant speculation about a potential change in KPCC leadership, with reports indicating that the Congress high command is considering appointing a new state party president.
Sudhakaran’s remarks have added fuel to an already heated political atmosphere, especially as he has reportedly been summoned to Delhi for discussions with party leaders. The timing of this turmoil is particularly critical, with local body elections set for later this year and state assembly elections approaching early next year. These upcoming contests are crucial for the Congress party, which is grappling with deepening internal strife.
Five prominent leaders are reportedly vying for the chief ministerial face of the party: AICC General Secretary K.C. Venugopal, former Opposition Leader Ramesh Chennithala, Sudhakaran himself, current Opposition Leader V.D. Satheesan, and Thiruvananthapuram MP Shashi Tharoor. As the party navigates this power struggle, Malayalam media outlets have reported that leadership within the Christian Church is urging Venugopal to ensure that the next KPCC president is a member of the Christian community. Names such as Lok Sabha MP Anto Antony and MLA Sunny Joseph have been floated as potential candidates for the post.
The demand for a Christian leader stems from concerns about a lack of prominent Christian representation following the retirement of former Defence Minister and Kerala Chief Minister AK Antony, as well as the recent passing of former Chief Minister Oommen Chandy. The Congress party is reportedly anxious that the Christian vote bank could shift towards the BJP if this vacuum is not addressed.
Simultaneously, party leadership is cautious about alienating the Ezhava community, a significant OBC group in Kerala, which may react negatively to Sudhakaran’s potential removal. Sudhakaran hails from this community, and the BJP has made significant inroads into traditional Ezhava strongholds during the last Lok Sabha elections, posing a challenge to both the Congress and the CPI(M).
Tensions escalated further when posters appeared in Aluva and Ernakulam opposing the proposed leadership change. The posters, titled “Save Congress,” criticized the suggested replacements, asserting that grassroots workers are unfamiliar with Anto Antony and Sunny Joseph.
In a separate but equally significant development on the same day, the Election Commission of India officially recognized the Kerala Congress as a state party and allotted it the autorickshaw symbol. Party chairman and MLA P.J. Joseph confirmed that this recognition followed the party’s performance in the recent Lok Sabha elections.
For years, the Kerala Congress had been operating without an official symbol after the Election Commission awarded the ‘two leaves’ symbol to the Jose K. Mani-led faction of the party. In the previous Lok Sabha elections, Kerala Congress candidate K. Francis George contested from Kottayam using the autorickshaw symbol and won, leading the party to adopt this symbol as its own.
The dispute over the party’s official symbol dates back to the Pala by-election in September 2019, which was triggered by the death of veteran legislator and KC(M) chairman K.M. Mani. This event led to a major rift within the party, resulting in factions led by Jose K. Mani and P.J. Joseph. During the Pala poll, Joseph denied the allocation of the party symbol to Jose Tom Pulikkunnel, the Mani group’s candidate, forcing Pulikkunnel to contest as a UDF-backed Independent, using the ‘pineapple’ symbol instead.
The symbol dispute was subsequently taken to the Election Commission and dragged on through a legal battle before finally being resolved in favor of the current arrangement. The recognition of the Kerala Congress as a state party and the allotment of the autorickshaw symbol mark a significant milestone for the party, solidifying its position within the political landscape of Kerala.
As the Congress party navigates these internal challenges and the evolving political landscape, it remains to be seen how these developments will impact the party's fortunes in the upcoming elections. The interplay between factional dynamics, community representation, and electoral strategy will undoubtedly shape the future of the Congress in Kerala.
