Will G. Sudhakaran throw a spanner in the Left’s electoral prospects?
G. Sudhakaran, one of the most formidable CPI(M) faces in Alappuzha, eventually severed his 63-year-old political ties with the party and stepped into the fray as an Independent from his native Ambalappuzha; This move is now certain to get support from the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF). His decision immediately stirred the waters and raised a larger question: Is this a one-time rebellion or the first visible crack in a deeper fault line within the party?
A lot now depends on whether Mr. Sudhakaran’s enduring grassroots reach can meld with the UDF’s electoral machinery. If so, the experienced player can turn the contest around. A victory here would be not only a personal salvation but also a symbolic breach in the Left’s two-decade-long grip on the seat.
The 79-year-old leader, a two-time Cabinet Minister and four-time MLA, has shown no signs of backing down. Acting decisively, he framed his exit as a matter of principle rather than politics. He insists that it is no longer possible to continue in the CPI(M) in an environment that, in his opinion, hinders fearless and honest political work. He says his decision to object was based on his “stance against corruption” and what he calls “the growing influence of criminal mafia elements in politics”.
When contacted, Mr. Sudhakaran’s response indicated a sense of personal and political alienation despite being close to senior leaders of the CPI(M) for long. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan’s remarks that he “couldn’t understand who I was” even after three decades of close relationship underscore what he sees as a deterioration in domestic political recognition and trust.
Relations with Pınarayı
“Even after working as the Prime Minister’s right-hand man, he made some statements about me in a press conference. I have always had great respect for him and I will not speak against him personally,” Mr. Sudhakaran said. HinduHe added that the current CPI(M) leadership risks being dragged into political isolation.
He alleged that the CPI(M) in Alappuzha had come under the control of “political criminals”. Framing his independent candidacy as an effort to promote “communist values,” Mr. Sudhakaran seeks to position himself within rather than outside the ideological continuum while tapping into what he portrays as growing disillusionment among the real cadres.
His emphasis on development, along with his campaign against political criminalization, corruption and the targeting of senior leaders within the party, points to an attempt to recast the electoral contest as both a local development plan and a broader political intervention.
While murmurs of dissent from second-tier leaders in the CPI(M) have become more frequent in recent years, the conflict between Mr. Sudhakaran and the CPI(M) is unusually large by any standards. The bitter and public war of words between him and the party signals a deeper break with personality clashes.
Expensive hesitation?
Political commentator J. Prabhash warns that similar events could have broader political consequences. With the Assembly elections approaching and anti-incumbency whispers already in the air, Mr. Prabhash warns that internal disagreements could blunt the CPI(M)’s ability to go on the offensive against the Congress-led UDF.
“When Mr. Sudhakaran signaled that he was sidelined, the State leadership of the party had a window to step in and defuse the situation. That moment has passed. What we are seeing now is the result of that hesitation,” points out Mr. Prabhash.
He compares the current situation with the tenure of late Kodiyeri Balakrishnan and suggests that his political management skills might have contained such flare-ups. He argues that signs of tension are becoming increasingly difficult to ignore in Kannur, Palakkad and Alappuzha, pointing to a leadership struggling to contain internal contradictions.
Part of a larger mess
Political scientist KM Seethi, Director, Center for Social Science Research and Extension at Inter University, MG University, reads Mr. Sudhakaran’s move as part of a broader upheaval in Kerala politics. He observes that senior leaders in parties are increasingly reluctant to fade quietly into the background. “There is a visible impatience among veterans who feel left out,” he says.
Mr Seethi says older control centers are not as compliant as they used to be. Referring to the disunity in the so-called ‘Kannur lobby’, he notes, “Even within the CPI(M), what was once seen as a close-knit power bloc is starting to show signs of tension.”
However, it still meets expectations. He argues that Mr. Sudhakaran’s reputation alone may not be enough to decisively sway voters. “The CPI(M) will do its best to contain the damage. The path to victory for Mr. Sudhakaran depends on something bigger falling into place, a strong anti-incumbency wave,” he says.
It was published – 20 March 2026 21:09 IST
