Senior Congress leader Ramesh Chennithala
| Photo Credit: K. Ragesh
Senior Congress leader Ramesh Chennithala on Thursday (March 12, 2026) alleged that the CPI(M) had “humiliated and forced out” veteran leader and former Kerala Minister G. Sudhakaran.
He also described the “treatment” meted out to him as a “grave injustice against a sincere communist” who had served the party for decades.
Addressing the media in Thiruvananthapuram, the former Kerala Leader of the Opposition said Mr. Sudhakaran, who has worked selflessly for the party for over half a century, had been subjected to “continuous humiliation” by his own colleagues in recent years.
“Sudhakaran is a leader who upheld values in both public and personal life. I have known him since our student days when we participated together in oratory competitions and public programmes. Even his political opponents have a good personal opinion about him,” he said.
He added that the former five-time MLA and Minister in the first Pinarayi Vijayan Cabinet had earned a reputation for his strong stance against corruption and principled political conduct. Targeting the CPI(M), he alleged that the party was now “hunting down an honest communist leader”.
“For the past five or six years, party leaders have been continuously targeting him and even insulting his family. A member of a martyr’s family has been publicly humiliated and forced out. This is one of the biggest betrayals committed by the CPI(M),” he said.
Mr. Sudhakaran, who previously represented the Ambalappuzha constituency in Alappuzha district, publicly declared his intentions to contest as an Independent candidate from the constituency for the upcoming Assembly polls earlier in the day.
Mr. Chennithala, who represents Haripad constituency in the same district, said the “mental anguish” suffered by Mr. Sudhakaran after dedicating nearly 65 years of his life to the CPI(M) should become “a subject of discussion in Kerala’s political circles.”
Responding to questions on whether the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) would support Mr. Sudhakaran if he contests as an Independent, Mr. Chennithala said the Congress, the UDF leadership and the district leadership in Alappuzha “will discuss the matter and take an appropriate decision,” he said.
In his personal view, he added, it would be a positive development if a public figure like Mr. Sudhakaran were to return to the Assembly. “Any move by the veteran leader would be a major setback for the CPI(M),” he stated.
Published – March 12, 2026 04:04 pm IST
