The latest reshuffle in the KPCC is as much about fixing organisational weaknesses as it is about balancing caste, community, and factional equations in a state where such dynamics remain critical.
Published May 08, 2025 | 9:19 PM ⚊ Updated May 08, 2025 | 9:19 PM
The KPCC has named a new president, UDF convener and working presidents.
Synopsis: The Congress party has overhauled its Kerala unit leadership, replacing KPCC president K Sudhakaran with Sunny Joseph and appointing new working presidents and a UDF convener in a bid to revive the party ahead of the 2026 Assembly elections. The reshuffle, seen as a strategic move to appease both its support base and internal factions, comes amid longstanding tensions between senior leaders and growing dissatisfaction over the party’s performance.
After much uncertainty, internal wrangling, and a fair amount of controversy, the All India Congress Committee (AICC) on Thursday finally announced a leadership overhaul for its Kerala unit.
But when the much-anticipated announcement came, some of the changes caught even senior state leaders off guard.
The most crucial change was the replacement of K Sudhakaran as the Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) president and the appointment of Peravoor MLA Sunny Joseph in his place – a decision widely expected.
Alongside, the party high command also removed United Democratic Front (UDF) convener MM Hassan, replacing him with Attingal MP Adoor Prakash.
In a move signalling a comprehensive reset, three KPCC working presidents – Kodikkunnil Suresh MP, TN Prathapan, and T Siddique MLA – were also shown the door, making way for a fresh team comprising PC Vishnunath MLA, AP Anilkumar MLA, and Shafi Parambil MP.
The high command’s choice of Sunny Joseph – a sitting MLA from Kannur and a trusted lieutenant of the outgoing president Sudhakaran – to helm the party’s state chapter was said to have been made at the last minute, given that Pathanamthitta MP Anto Antony was widely tipped to take charge.
Sunny Joseph
But the final pick, insiders say, was a careful balancing act aimed at mollifying Sudhakaran while addressing a long-pending grievance within the Christian community over its perceived marginalisation in the party’s leadership structure.
Since PP Thankachan’s tenure in 2004, no leader from the Christian community had occupied the KPCC president’s chair.
The influential Catholic Church, a traditional ally of the Congress, has long been uneasy about the community’s diminishing space in the party’s decision-making apparatus.
The post-AK Antony and Oommen Chandy era deepened this disconnect, with repeated representations made to the high command for course correction.
Sunny Joseph’s appointment, therefore, serves a dual purpose – it signals a gesture of goodwill towards the church establishment while positioning a loyalist of Sudhakaran in a pivotal post during a turbulent phase for the Congress in Kerala.
An advocate by training, Joseph – fondly known within party circles as ‘Sunny Vakkil’ – has had an eventful political career since his days in the Kerala Students Union (KSU).
He climbed the ranks steadily, serving as the Kannur District Congress Committee president, UDF Kannur chairman, and winning three consecutive Assembly elections from Peravoor since 2011, including a notable debut victory against Communist Party of India (Marxist)’s KK Shailaja.
Moments after his elevation as the new KPCC president, Joseph struck a note of humility and resolve.
Speaking to the media, he called it a “huge responsibility” and pledged to work tirelessly to uphold the trust placed in him.
“My priority is to strengthen the Congress and the UDF in Kerala,” he added.
Joseph made it clear he is not one for laying down rigid rules or issuing diktats.
“Everyone in the party knows their role and responsibilities. Discipline is not something you enforce with boundaries – it is something you live by,” he said.
He also hinted at a leadership style rooted in collective effort.
“I do not believe in rolling out a personal blueprint for party functioning. My mantra is simple: hard work coupled with teamwork, and moving forward together,” Joseph added.
Meanwhile, AK Antony extended his congratulations to the newly appointed KPCC president and other office bearers.
He expressed confidence that the decision would be warmly received by Congress workers, supporters, and all democratic believers in Kerala.
Antony also welcomed the inclusion of K Sudhakaran as a special invitee to the Congress Working Committee, praising his courageous leadership during challenging times.
He noted that the party had secured significant victories in elections under Sudhakaran’s leadership.
“What the Congress in Kerala needs now is a leadership that engages in collective discussions and decisions. If the new leadership achieves that, the UDF will return to power in Kerala,” Antony added.
The decision also comes against the backdrop of a festering cold war between Sudhakaran and Leader of the Opposition VD Satheesan.
K Sudhakaran
The high command has been increasingly frustrated by the duo’s inability to work together or forge a collective position on major political issues.
Party sources say the internal paralysis had reached a tipping point, especially after the Congress’ inability to mount a coordinated offensive against the Left Democratic Front (LDF) government despite having a robust tally of 18 Lok Sabha seats.
It was in this context that the AICC decided to revamp the state unit, hoping a new team could reset the organisational structure and improve relations with the church ahead of the 2026 Assembly elections.
Furthermore, the appointment of Adoor Prakash targets the Ezhava community.
At the same time, it is worth noting that while speaking to the media in Thiruvananthapuram on 4 May, Sudhakaran appeared visibly hurt by claims from certain sections within the party that his treatment at the Mayo Clinic in the United States made him unfit to continue as KPCC president.
He clarified that neither AICC president Mallikarjun Kharge nor Rahul Gandhi had asked for his resignation.
Criticising sections of the media for what he said was baseless speculation that the Congress high command intended to appoint a Christian leader to secure minority votes, Sudhakaran questioned why a Muslim leader was not being considered for the post.
He also accused the media of fuelling premature speculation about a leadership change, thereby diverting attention from the alleged failures of the LDF government.
The inclusion of young leaders like Vishnunath – relieved of his AICC Secretary responsibilities – and and Shafi Parambil as two of the three new KPCC working presidents reflects an attempt to inject fresh energy into the organisational setup.
The leader dismissed media speculation over the post, stating that no Congress leader in Kerala had publicly claimed the presidency.
He also dismissed reports of a rift with Sudhakaran.
“K Sudhakaran actively led the organisation. We were doing everything together. Yet the media said that we were at loggerheads. Every day the media floated names and speculated,” he said, adding that all appointments were made after due consultations.
New working presidents PC Vishnunath MLA, AP Anilkumar MLA, and Shafi Parambil MP.
He also criticised sections of the media for targeting Congress while ignoring developments in other parties, particularly the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
The Opposition Leader reaffirmed that the UDF would fight the next Assembly elections with a united front and a clear strategy to win over 100 seats, powered by an energetic, socially inclusive leadership team.
The Congress in Kerala is gearing up for what it calls a “legendary comeback” with a leadership team blending experience and youth. Announcing the reshuffle, the Opposition Leader Satheesan told the media in Pulpally on Thursday.
According to him, the AICC has appointed a balanced team that represents all social groups, ensuring no section feels alienated.
Lauding Joseph as an accomplished parliamentarian and skilled organiser, the Satheesan said his elevation was based purely on merit.
Ultimately, the latest reshuffle in the KPCC is as much about fixing organisational weaknesses as it is about balancing caste, community, and factional equations in a state where such dynamics remain critical.
While Sunny Joseph’s appointment addresses the Catholic church’s longstanding demand for better representation, retaining Sudhakaran as a permanent invitee to the Congress Working Committee ensures his relevance in Kerala politics.
Whether this rejig will end the factional feuds and reinvigorate a Congress unit that has struggled to capitalise on the LDF’s anti-incumbency is the bigger question.
The immediate answer might lie in Nilambur, with the upcoming by-polls – a seat the Congress shockingly lost to independent PV Anvar.
While the Left will seek to retain its hold, for the Congress and the UDF, it is not just about reclaiming a lost constituency, but about signalling revival under a new leadership.
But with Anvar moving to the UDF, the Congress leadership is determined to recapture Nilambur.
(Edited by Dese Gowda)
