Kannur: The Congress high command has stepped in to calm tensions with former KPCC president K. Sudhakaran, who returned to his Kannur residence on Friday, skipping the Lok Sabha session in protest over his exclusion from the assembly election candidates list.
Party sources confirmed that Rahul Gandhi has summoned Sudhakaran to Delhi for further discussions on Monday. While it is uncertain whether Sudhakaran will comply, insiders suggest he is unlikely to take any drastic action that could embarrass the party ahead of the elections.
Throughout the day, Sudhakaran avoided the media but posted on Facebook, reflecting emotionally on his association with Kannur. He reaffirmed his commitment to the region, noting his history of protecting party workers and defending Congress interests in the district.
Sudhakaran had previously indicated his intention to contest the assembly elections, despite Congress leadership’s general reluctance to allow sitting MPs to enter state polls. Earlier, Rahul Gandhi reportedly promised him an assembly seat when he stepped down as KPCC president. However, the leadership has cited changed political circumstances, including the risk of triggering by-polls if exemptions are made, and informed Sudhakaran that the promise could not be honored directly.
As a compromise, the party offered that Sudhakaran could select the candidate for the Kannur assembly seat. It remains to be seen whether he will accept this proposal.
Meanwhile, posters praising Sudhakaran appeared around Kannur, and Congress leaders including Rijil Makkutty, Muhammad Shammas, and Sreeja Madathil visited his residence to show support. DCC president Martin George stated he would welcome Sudhakaran contesting the polls, while several party workers recalled his role in defending Congress from attacks by the CPM in Kannur.
Leader of Opposition V. D. Satheesan, however, sought to downplay the issue, claiming Sudhakaran was unaware of the Facebook post and that it did not indicate he would contest. Satheesan suggested the controversy was being used to divert attention from challenges created by the former CPM leader G. Sudhakaran in LDF politics.
With the assembly elections approaching, the Congress high command’s intervention and proposed compromise aim to manage internal dissent and maintain party unity in Kannur.