Kerala Congress: New leaders, old troubles

Sunny Joseph, the newly appointed president of the Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee, being welcomed in Kozhikode.
| Photo Credit: K. Ragesh

After deliberating for more than six months, the All India Congress Committee (AICC) on May 8 effected a leadership change in the party’s Kerala unit by appointing Sunny Joseph as president of the Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC). Mr. Joseph, a three-time legislator from Peravoor, has replaced K. Sudhakaran.

Incidentally, the announcement came soon after Mr. Sudhakaran publicly asserted that he had no intention of relinquishing the post. However, the AICC was determined to revamp the KPCC given the pressure from senior State leaders. The matter was ultimately resolved through a carefully negotiated compromise: while Mr. Joseph, a trusted associate, was made KPCC president, Mr. Sudhakaran was appointed as a permanent invitee to the Congress Working Committee. The AICC appointed MP Adoor Prakash as convener of the Congress-led UDF and also promoted A.P. Anil Kumar, P.C. Vishnunath, and Shafi Parambil as working presidents of the KPCC.

Also read | Sunny Joseph has his task cut out as new Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee president

With Mr. Joseph’s appointment, the Congress high command is desperately seeking to resurrect the once-formidable Christian-Nair alliance that helped the party win Assembly elections. Support from the influential Nair community as well as from various Christian denominations, particularly the Syrian Catholics, has eroded over time for the Congress. A section of these communities has switched loyalty to the BJP. Congress strategists believe that Mr. Joseph’s nomination will help the party capitalise on his Christian background. His appointment also carries historical significance: this is the first time in over two decades that a Christian leader is helming the party in Kerala. With the post being held by leaders belonging to the Ezhava/Thiyya community for more than a decade, the Catholic clergy has been demanding that a community member lead the KPCC.

Soon after the reshuffle, Congress leaders displayed camaraderie. However, this unity was disrupted when Mr. Sudhakaran announced that he was miffed about being removed from the post of KPCC president. He alleged that a faction of leaders, driven by self-interest, had influenced the AICC. While he announced that he remained committed to adhering to the party’s directives, Mr. Sudhakaran cautiously suggested that the Central leadership might still consider him for the role of Kerala’s in-charge for the 2026 Assembly elections.

Many Congress leaders believe that Mr. Sudhakaran has good reason to be disappointed as his performance was not properly evaluated. The two preceding KPCC presidents faced different circumstances: Mullappally Ramachandran was ousted following the Congress’ poor performance in the 2021 Assembly polls, while V.M. Sudheeran made a hasty exit less than a year after the 2016 Assembly polls. Though Mr. Sudheeran officially cited health reasons for his decision, it was an open secret that internal conflicts led to his resignation.

The Central leadership perhaps did not have confidence in Mr. Sudhakaran’s ability to lead the party to victory in the crucial 2026 Assembly elections. The stakes are high since the CPI(M)-led LDF is aiming for a historic third consecutive term in office. Nearly all the Congress aspirants for the post of Chief Minister apparently wanted Mr. Sudhakaran to be removed.

While some say that the Central leadership did not lay the groundwork for Mr. Joseph’s elevation and simply parachuted him to the top, veteran leader A.K. Antony is confident that the new KPCC president will ensure that a UDF government and a Congress leader will be in power in 2026.

The leadership matrix no doubt looks flawless on paper thanks to the fine balancing of caste interests — the Congress in Kerala now has a KPCC chief from the Christian community; a Leader of the Opposition from the Nair community, an UDF convener from the Ezhava community, and KPCC working presidents from the Scheduled Caste and Muslim communities.

However, this alone will not fetch votes. To attract voters who had moved away from the party, it is crucial for the Congress leadership to take an unambiguous stand on issues such as the Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025, and the caste census. Bitter factionalism and multiple chief ministerial aspirants are hurdles for the party. The biggest challenge for the Congress lies in effectively mobilising anti-incumbency at the grassroots level.