K. Sudhakaran assumes charge as KPCC president with much fanfare 

Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) president K. Sudhakaran has ended a week of speculation that his tenure hung in the balance by reclaiming his office at Congress party’s State headquarters, Indira Bhavan, in Thiruvananthapuram with much fanfare.

Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) president K. Sudhakaran on May 8 ended a week of speculation that his tenure hung in the balance by reclaiming his office at the Congress party’s State headquarters, Indira Bhavan, in Thiruvananthapuram with much fanfare.

Mr. Sudhakaran’s somewhat high-profile resumption of office came against the backdrop of the conjecture that the All India Congress Committee(AICC) had linked his continuation in office to the party’s faring at the 2024 Lok Sabha elections and wanted KPCC acting president M.M. Hassan to hold charge at least till mid-June. 

Mr. Sudhakaran’s return to the KPCC headquarters was neither controversy-free nor a muted affair. His loyalists garlanded him outside Indira Bhavan. Mr. Sudhakaran entered the office with much flashiness and addressed the media. 

Earlier, a phalanx of television camera crew tailed Mr. Sudhakaran and his entourage to the house of Congress veteran A.K. Antony. 

Mr. Hassan, who held charge while Mr. Sudhakaran campaigned in Kannur Lok Sabha constituency, seemed conspicuous by his absence at Indira Bhavan. 

Mr. Sudhakaran appeared not to hide his annoyance at Mr. Hassan’s truancy. “Mr. Hassan should have been here. Such courtesy is the choice of the individual and beyond the party’s diktat”, he said. 

Mr. Sudhakaran denied that the AICC had reinstated him at the last minute after coming under pressure to maintain backward-class representation in the KPCC leadership.