New Leadership Expected for Congress in Kerala as Sudhakaran Indicates Willingness to Step Aside
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Synopsis
Days before the Congress leaders' meeting in Delhi, Kerala's President K. Sudhakaran expressed his willingness to step down. This sets the stage for discussions about his successor as the party navigates leadership changes ahead of crucial decisions.
Key Takeaways
- K. Sudhakaran is open to stepping down from his role.
- The Congress high command will convene to discuss leadership.
- Potential successors include several prominent party members.
- Minority representation is a key concern in the selection process.
- There’s an expectation of rewards from the community with a new leadership.
Thiruvananthapuram, Feb 26 (NationPress) As top Congress officials from Kerala prepare to travel to Delhi at the request of the party high command, state unit President K. Sudhakaran expressed his readiness to step down on Wednesday.
Sudhakaran, who also serves as a Lok Sabha member from Kannur, stated that it is the high command's prerogative to determine who should occupy the position.
"The high command is at liberty to decide what they deem appropriate. If they choose to replace me, they are welcome to do so; there’s nothing wrong with that. I have held various posts and have no complaints whatsoever," he remarked.
This statement clarifies any uncertainty regarding Sudhakaran's response, placing the decision firmly in the hands of the high command, which is set to convene later this week.
Attendees at the upcoming meeting include Sudhakaran, Leader of Opposition V.D. Satheesan, and eight former state party Presidents: Ramesh Chennithala, K. Muraleedharan, V.M. Sudheeran, M.M. Hassan, A.K. Antony, Vayalar Ravi, K. Padmarajan, P.P. Thankachen, and Thennala Balakrishna Pillai.
As Sudhakaran prepares to step down, identifying his successor will be a challenging endeavor for the high command, and several names have begun to circulate.
According to an informed source, the high command has engaged two agencies along with a report from AICC General Secretary in charge of Kerala, Deepa Das Munshi, who met with a diverse group of party leaders in the region.
The high command is expected to proceed with caution, as there is a belief that the next state President should either be a Christian or a Hindu Ezhava. Potential candidates include Congress MPs Adoor Prakash, Anto Antony, Benny Behanan, and two-time young legislator Rogi M. John, along with legislator Sunny Joseph, who is considered a close ally of Sudhakaran.
Additionally, veteran Congress MP Kodikunnil Suresh, who belongs to the SC category, is also being mentioned.
Recently, with the CPI-M appearing to aim for Hindu consolidation, the Congress anticipates that a new President from the minority community could yield positive results, which is one reason why numerous Christian candidates are being highlighted for the role.
Within the minority communities, Christians account for approximately 17 to 18 percent, while the Muslim community constitutes about 23 to 24 percent of the 3.30 crore population.
