THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: After tough talk and exit rumours, including a possible BJP switch if denied a ticket from Kannur, K Sudhakaran backtracked, fell in line, and reaffirmed loyalty to the Congress on Thursday evening.
The Kannur strongman made it clear that being a sincere Congress worker, he will not contest as a rebel candidate in the assembly elections.
In a clear assertion of authority ahead of the crucial polls, the Congress high command decisively turned down the former KPCC president’s bid to enter the fray. The move, seen as a calculated show of organisational discipline, comes after days of intense lobbying and veiled brinkmanship by Sudhakaran, who had sought to leverage his position to secure a party ticket.
Speaking to the media on Thursday after meeting the party’s national leadership in Delhi, Sudhakaran said: “I am no one to challenge the party as it is so much bigger and I am so small.” “I will accept the party’s decision,” he said, making it clear that he will not defy the organisation in any way.
The high command has also decided against fielding any sitting MPs in the assembly polls.
Antony urges Sudhakaran to stand by party’s decision
The decision effectively shut the door on multiple aspirants such as UDF convenor Adoor Prakash and M K Raghavan.
Sources said Sudhakaran had conveyed to the high command that when he stepped down from the post of Congress state president, Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi had assured him that he would be considered for an assembly seat. However, his attempts over the past two days to secure an appointment with Rahul reportedly did not materialise. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge also did not concede to his demands, they said.
Earlier, Sudhakaran had warned the Kerala leaders of dire consequences if he was denied a ticket, and protests were organised by his supporters in Kannur.
At one point of time, veteran leader A K Antony called the Kannur MP and urged him to abide by organisational discipline. He also advised the leadership to take into account Sudhakaran’s political legacy while making decisions. During their conversation, Antony urged Sudhakaran to stand by the party’s decision to stop LDF from coming to power for a third term. “Sudhakaran is someone who fought the Marxist party in Kannur, even risking his life. I requested him to stand by the party’s decision, whatever difficulties he may face,” Antony told reporters later.
Meanwhile, sources said Adoor Prakash had told the central leadership that excluding both him and Sudhakaran would leave the influential Ezhava community without prominent representation in the fray.
The high command, however, chose not to yield, as such demands could trigger similar claims from other aspirants, they said.
While senior leader Ramesh Chennithala maintained a relatively soft stand over the demand of aspirants, it was AICC organisational general secretary K C Venugopal who ultimately took a firm position in favour of maintaining organisational discipline.
Leader of the opposition V D Satheesan was also not in favour of allotting tickets to MPs.