Kerala PCC prefers a consensus path in favour of president K Sudhakaran to continue in office

Opposition leader VD Satheesan, Lok Sabha members K Muraleedharan and Kodikunnil Suresh, former MLA KC Joseph, and United Democratic Front (UDF) convenor MM Hassan supported the resolution, which was then passed unanimously.

Though the resolution, moved by senior leader Ramesh Chennithala, did not name Sudhakaran, party sources said the state unit had communicated to the national leadership about its unanimous choice.

Sudhakaran was elevated to the post last year after the humiliating defeat the party suffered in the Assembly elections.

In another resolution, the party also requested Sonia Gandhi to declare the KPCC office-bearers AICC members from the state. The KPCC meeting, which was held amidst the Bharat Jodo Yatra of Rahul Gandhi, lasted only for a few minutes.

Chennithala later told reporters that the state unit had preferred a path of consensus keeping in mind the severe challenges the party is facing now.

No name other than Sudhakaran was taken up for discussion at any point in time, party sources said.

Sonia Gandhi will direct the party’s state unit next week to propose the names of the new members of the KPCC.

The state unit has already finalised the names.

The PCC members will have voting rights in the Congress president’s election, which is slated for 17 October.

Sudhakaran replaced Mullappally Ramachandran because the national party leadership appointed VD Satheesan the leader of the Opposition, much to the chagrin of his predecessor Ramesh Chennithala.