Kerala Congress: New leader, old trouble

The newly appointed Kerala Congress Committee Chairman Sunny Joseph has been welcomed in Kozhikode. |Picture source: K. Ragesh

oneThe All-India Congress Committee (AICC) was considered for more than six months on May 8, and changed the leadership change in the party’s Kerala sector by appointing Sunny Joseph as the Kerala Congress Committee (KPCC). Mr. Joseph, a three-term legislator from Peravoor, has replaced K. Sudhakaran.

By the way, the news came soon after Mr. Sudhakaran publicly asserted that he had no intention of giving up the position. However, in view of the pressure from senior national leaders, the AICC is determined to transform the KPCC. The matter was finally settled through a carefully negotiated compromise: Although trusted colleague Mr. Joseph was appointed as the chairman of the KPCC, Mr. Sudhakaran was appointed as the permanent invitation of the Congress Working Committee. AICC appointed Adoor Prakash as convener of the Congress-led UDF and was promoted to AP Anil Kumar, PC Vishnunath and Shafi Parambil to work presidents of the KPCC.

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With Mr. Joseph’s appointment, the High Congress Command desperately sought to revive the once-formed Christian Nair League, helping the party win the parliamentary elections. The influential Nair community and support from various Christian denominations, especially Syrian Catholics, over time, Congress eroded. Parts of these communities have converted loyalty to the BJP. Congress strategists believe that Joseph’s nomination will help the party exploit it with a Christian background. His appointment is also historical: this is the first time in 20 years since Christian leaders led the party in Kerala. Since leaders belonging to the Ezhava/Thiyya community have held the position for more than a decade, Catholic clergy have been asking community members to lead the KPCC.

Shortly after the reorganization, Congress leaders showed friendship. However, this unity was disturbed when Mr. Sudhakaran announced that he had been removed from the position of President of the KPCC. He claimed that the faction of leaders driven by their own interests influenced the AICC. While he announced that he remains committed to complying with the party’s instructions, Mr. Sudhakaran carefully suggested that the central leadership may still consider his role in Kerala’s responsibility in the 2026 General Assembly elections.

Many Congress leaders believe that Mr. Sudhakaran has good reason to be disappointed due to the failure to properly assess his performance. The two presidents of the KPCC face different situations: Congress performed poorly in the 2021 parliamentary poll, while VM Sudheeran was less than a year after the 2016 parliamentary poll. Although Mr. Sudheeran formally mentioned the health reasons for his decision, it was an open secret that internal conflict led to his resignation.

The central leadership may not be confident in Mr. Sudhakaran’s ability to win in the 2026 parliamentary elections. The stakes are high because the CPI(M)-led LDF aims to be a third consecutive term. Almost all the aspiring people of Congress, aspiring, obviously want Mr. Sudhakaran to be removed from office.

While some say that the central leadership did not lay the foundation for Mr. Joseph’s altitude and just jumped him to the top, senior leader AK Antony believes the new KPCC president will ensure that the UDF government and Congress leaders will take power in 2026.

There is no doubt that the leadership matrix looks flawless on paper due to the balance of caste interests – the Congress of Kerala now has the KPCC head of the Christian community. Leader of the Nair community opposition, UDF convener of the Ezhava community, and KPCC work in the planned caste and Muslim community.

However, this alone won’t get a vote. To attract voters who leave the party, it is crucial for Congress leaders to take a clear position on issues such as the WAQF (Amendment) Act and the caste census. Painful factionalism and multiple chief ministers’ ambitions are obstacles to the party. The biggest challenge facing Congress is effectively mobilizing anti-registration at the grassroots level.