Will G. Sudhakaran throw a spanner in the Left’s electoral prospects?

G. Sudhakaran, one of the most formidable CPI(M) faces in Alappuzha, has finally snapped his 63-year-old political ties with the party and stepped into the fray as an Independent from his home turf, Ambalappuzha, a move that is now certain to receive backing from the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF). His decision has instantly stirred the waters, raising a larger question: is this a one-off rebellion or the first visible crack in a deeper fault line within the party?

Much now hinges on whether Mr. Sudhakaran’s enduring grassroots connect can fuse with the UDF’s electoral machinery. If it does, the veteran could turn the contest on its head. A victory here would not just be personal redemption, but a symbolic dent in the Left’s grip over a seat for two decades.

The 79-year-old leader, a two-time Cabinet Minister and four-time MLA, has shown no signs of retreat. Standing firm, he has framed his exit as a matter of principle rather than politics. He insists that continuing in the CPI(M) was no longer possible in a climate that, according to him, stifles fearless and honest political work. His decision to contest, he says, is rooted in his “stand against corruption” and what he describes as “the growing influence of criminal mafia elements in politics’’.

When contacted, Mr. Sudhakaran’s response pointed to a sense of personal and political alienation, despite his long proximity to the CPI(M)’s top leadership. His remark that the Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan failed to “understand who I am,” even after three decades of close association, underscores what he sees as a breakdown in internal political recognition and trust.

On ties with Pinarayi

“Even after I worked as the Chief Minister’s right-hand man, he made certain remarks about me at a press conference. I have always held him in high regard, and I will not speak against him personally,” Mr. Sudhakaran told The Hindu, adding that the present CPI(M) leadership risks drifting into political isolation.

He alleged that the CPI(M) in Alappuzha had come under the dominance of “political criminals”. By framing his Independent candidature as an effort to uphold “communist values,” Mr. Sudhakaran seeks to position himself within an ideological continuum rather than outside it, while tapping into what he portrays as growing disillusionment among genuine cadres.

His emphasis on development, alongside a campaign against political criminalisation, corruption, and the targeting of senior leaders within the party, indicates an attempt to recast the electoral contest as both a local development plank and a broader political intervention.

While murmurs of dissent from second rung leaders have become more frequent in the CPI(M) in recent years, the confrontation between Mr. Sudhakaran and the CPI(M) is unusually large by any standards. The sharp and public war of words between him and the party signals a rupture that runs deeper than personality clashes.

A costly hesitation?

Political commentator J. Prabhash cautions that the episode could have wider political ramifications. With Assembly elections looming and whispers of anti-incumbency already in the air, Mr. Prabhash warns that internal discords could blunt the CPI(M)’s ability to go on the offensive against the Congress-led UDF.

“When Mr. Sudhakaran flagged that he was being sidelined, the party’s State leadership had a window to step in and defuse the situation. That moment passed. What we are seeing now is the consequence of that hesitation,” Mr. Prabhash notes.

He contrasts the current situation with the late Kodiyeri Balakrishnan’s tenure, suggesting that his political management skills might have contained such flare-ups. From Kannur to Palakkad, he argues, signs of strain are becoming harder to ignore, pointing to a leadership that is struggling to contain internal contradictions.

Part of a broader churn

Political scientist K.M. Seethi, Director, Inter University Centre for Social Science Research and Extension, MG University, reads Mr. Sudhakaran’s move as part of a broader churn in Kerala politics. Senior leaders across parties, he observes, are increasingly unwilling to fade quietly into the background. “There is a visible impatience among veterans who feel edged out,” he says.

Mr. Seethi says the old centres of control are not as cohesive as before. “Even within the CPI(M), what was once seen as a tightly knit power bloc is beginning to show signs of strain,” he notes, alluding to the ruptures within the so-called ‘Kannur lobby’.

Yet, he tempers expectations. Mr. Sudhakaran’s stature alone, he argues, may not be enough to swing the electorate decisively. “The CPI(M) will go all out to contain the damage. For Mr. Sudhakaran, the path to victory depends on something larger falling into place, a strong anti-incumbency wave,” he says.

Published – March 20, 2026 09:09 pm IST