Will Sunny Days Truly Return to the Congress Party in Kerala?

Thiruvananthapuram, May 12 (NationPress) With three-time legislator Sunny Joseph stepping in as the new President of the Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC), the prevailing question is whether brighter days will return for the Congress party in Kerala.

The selection of the 72-year-old Joseph surprised many, given that for nearly four decades, leadership roles within the party have been traditionally shared among factions led by prominent figures.

From the 1970s until the early 2000s, the party was primarily divided into two factions—one under the legendary four-time Chief Minister K. Karunakaran and the other led by three-time Chief Minister A.K. Antony.

As Karunakaran's influence waned, a third faction emerged, spearheaded by Ramesh Chennithala, followed by a fourth group led by outgoing KPCC President and Kannur Lok Sabha member K. Sudhakaran, with Joseph as his right-hand man.

However, the turn of the century saw the rise of Oommen Chandy, assimilating the remaining factions under Chennithala until 2021, when Chandy stepped aside for Pinarayi Vijayan, marking the end of his leadership due to health concerns.

The Congress party faced significant setbacks when Vijayan made history by maintaining his position with a remarkable victory in the 2021 Assembly elections, leaving the party in turmoil.

In response, the Congress High Command intervened, appointing Sudhakaran as the new state party President and V.D. Satheesan as the Leader of the Opposition, despite Chennithala's broader support.

With Chandy's decline and subsequent passing in 2023, the internal conflicts mostly faded, although occasional public disputes among top leaders surfaced. Sudhakaran's health issues led to discussions where he insisted on nominating Joseph, which was ultimately accepted, ensuring a smooth transition.

Chennithala emphasized this change on Monday while welcoming Joseph at a packed auditorium, stating, "Sunny (Joseph) does not align with any faction within the party," expressing optimism that under Joseph's leadership, the Congress party will experience a revival.

In his inaugural address, Joseph assured party members of his commitment and outlined his goal to reinforce the party at the grassroots level, paving the way for success in the upcoming local body elections later this year and the pivotal 2026 Assembly elections.

Interestingly, when current State CPI-M Secretary M.V. Govindan was the Kannur district CPI-M Secretary, Joseph served as the district president. Now, with two individuals from the same town leading two significant parties in Kerala, an intriguing verbal rivalry is anticipated, raising the question of whether sunny days will truly return for the party under Sunny Joseph.