Synopsis
The Congress party in Kerala is celebrating the centenary of Gandhi's meeting with Sree Narayana Guru, with two discontented Communist leaders, G. Sudhakaran and C. Divakaran, attending the event. Their participation highlights growing tensions within their parties and adds political significance to the occasion.Key Takeaways
- Two discontented Communist leaders attend Congress event.
- Gandhi's meeting with Sree Narayana Guru commemorated.
- Political tensions highlighted within Kerala's Communist parties.
- Sudhakaran and Divakaran's criticisms of their party leadership.
- Event marks a significant historical milestone.
Thiruvananthapuram, March 11 (NationPress) The Congress party's centenary celebration commemorating the historic encounter between Mahatma Gandhi and Sree Narayana Guru has ignited political discussions in Kerala, as two discontented Communist figures are poised to participate in the event on Wednesday.
Former state ministers G. Sudhakaran (CPI-M) and C. Divakaran (CPI), both of whom were part of the 2006-11 cabinet under V.S. Achuthanandan, will serve as the chief guests during this gathering at the Congress state headquarters.
The event will be inaugurated by Opposition Leader V.D. Satheesan and presided over by seasoned Congress leader and former state party president V.M. Sudheeran.
Although neither Sudhakaran nor Divakaran has formally distanced themselves from their parties, both are recognized for their tense relations with their leadership.
Despite being regarded as one of the most reputable leaders in the CPI-M, G. Sudhakaran has been marginalized by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan since 2021. Paradoxically, he once commanded respect from the Congress-led UDF while serving in the cabinets of Achuthanandan and Vijayan (2016-21). His exclusion from the recent four-day CPI-M state conference, where he was not even invited, has further intensified his dissatisfaction.
Adding to the political speculation, AICC General Secretary (Organisation) K.C. Venugopal recently visited Sudhakaran at his home in Alappuzha, Venugopal's Lok Sabha constituency. While both leaders described it as an informal meeting, it has sparked political intrigue.
Conversely, Divakaran has become increasingly outspoken in his criticism of both Vijayan and his party after being denied a ticket in the 2021 assembly elections. His political standing declined further when he placed third in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. His sporadic criticisms of the CPI and Vijayan indicate his escalating frustration.
With Sudhakaran snubbed from the Kollam CPI-M event and Divakaran's attendance at the Congress function, their participation is attracting considerable media attention.
This milestone event commemorates the 100th anniversary of Gandhi's meeting with Sree Narayana Guru on March 12, 1925, at Vanajakshi Mandiram near Sivagiri, approximately 50 km from Thiruvananthapuram. On that significant day, the two leaders convened together on a Khadi rug, symbolizing their mutual vision for social reform.
As the Congress hosts this momentous occasion, the presence of two sidelined Communist leaders could impart a layer of political importance to the event.
