Kerala's Congress does a surgical strike on K. Sudhakaran - will it regret the decision?

The whole of India is fixated on what’s happening at the border.

That’s exactly when the Congress Party decided it was the ideal time to do a surgical strike on their most popular leader currently in Kerala – K. Sudhakaran. He was finally removed as president of the Kerala unit of the party, which brings to an end a drama that had been running for way too long.

At various points, it was felt that Sudhakaran had even got a stay on his removal. Because he was in no mood to go quietly, which is what former Congress party presidents have been doing the moment they get the call – or the nudge – from the ‘high command’.

Finally, Sudhakaran caved in to the pressure, and going on to ‘warmly welcome’ his successor as president of the state unit, the mild-mannered Sunny Joseph, the sitting MLA from Peravoor.

The Congress high command back in Delhi didn’t stop there, confirming Adoor Prakash as UDF convener, the charismatic Shafi Parambil (MP), P.C. Vishnunath (MLA), A.P., and Anil Kumar (MLA) as working presidents. (Thankfully, the Dilliwalas decided not to go ahead with their original choice, Anto Anthony, as Congress’ Kerala unit President.)

To be honest, it’s a good mix – but the thought rankles whether those in Delhi really needed to shunt Sudhakaran out at this moment in time when elections are due for the local bodies and then, by May 2026, for the Assembly. If there is any person who deserved to be at the helm of affairs of the party in Kerala, it was Sudhakaran. And the one person who would have been decisive in effecting a victory for the Congress and the UDF. However, that’s not to be.

Which is a tragedy because this firebrand leader from Kannur is/was within touching distance of a possible win in May 2026. The saddest part is that this is the one Congress leader in Kerala who is not harbor any ambitions of becoming the Chief Minister if the UDF wins.

Will the change of guard – a ‘generational shift’ as Congress are saying – mean anything to Shashi Tharoor’s fortunes? The maverick MP from Thiruvananthapuram did have a fairly good equation with Sudhakaran, who had at various points in the recent past did support Tharoor through the many controversies he landed in. (These days, Tharoor has been vocal about extending support to the central government’s action taken on the border.)

If this is indeed a generational change, good luck to the Congress. Any party that decides it’s time to elevate Shafi Parambil to the top tier should be applauded. Because there is this vibe that Shafi gives off that suggests he is destined for better things. In time, assume an aura that goes beyond religious identity in Kerala politics.

Sundhakaran had that very same aura – a leader who truly made it through grit - and a lot of street-fighting credentials.

Now, that’s what the Kerala unit of the Congress is losing out on. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan will not mind it one bit…