Tension grips Kerala’s CPI(M) as senior leader G. Sudhakaran, aged 75, makes a clear move toward exiting the party. Refusing to renew his membership in the current verification drive, the former minister’s decision marks the culmination of mounting conflicts with the top brass.
In a bluntly worded Facebook message, Sudhakaran detailed years of perceived insults post his 2022 shift from state to Alappuzha district’s branch committee. With 63 years in the party and 43 on the state panel, he decried the district leadership’s indifference—no visits, no roles in programs over five years.
District secretary M.V. Govindan’s press conference jab, calling him unworthy of ideological debate, drew sharp retorts from Sudhakaran, who dismissed it jovially to reporters.
A political heavyweight with four assembly wins and two ministerial roles—one in Pinarayi Vijayan’s 2016-21 government—Sudhakaran’s candid demeanor has earned cross-party admiration. Denied a 2021 ticket, his simmering discontent has repeatedly surfaced, testing party patience.
He recalled being overlooked for the Emergency golden jubilee event, despite his standout record of arrests and attacks in Alappuzha during the turbulent 1970s.
Friday’s press meet looms large, with many expecting an official resignation. Congress ties surface via K.C. Venugopal’s meeting, fueling talk of a UDF candidacy in Ambalappuzha that might alter power balances.
Sudhakaran would join a growing list: ex-MLAs S. Rajendran (now BJP) and Aysha Potty (Congress) have already jumped ship last month, signaling potential vulnerabilities for CPI(M) ahead.