Kerala Congress Turmoil: Sudhakaran Ready to Step Down if AICC Directs

Amid ongoing discussions about a leadership overhaul in the Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC), state unit president K Sudhakaran declared his willingness to step down if the All India Congress Committee (AICC) instructed him.

Addressing the media on Wednesday, Sudhakaran stated, “No one from AICC has asked me to resign, but if they do, I will abide by their decision. I have no complaints and am content with my contributions to the party.”

The development comes as speculation grows over an impending revamp of the Kerala Congress ahead of the upcoming local body elections and the crucial 2026 Assembly polls. AICC general secretary Deepa Dasmunsi recently held discussions with key state leaders regarding potential leadership changes.

Tharoor Warns Congress Needs to Expand Its Base

Senior Congress leader Shashi Tharoor has weighed in on the party’s future in Kerala, emphasizing the need to attract new voters. Speaking on The New Indian’s Malayalam podcast Varthamanam, Tharoor noted that the party risked remaining in opposition for a third consecutive term if it failed to broaden its appeal.

“The Congress cannot win with just its core vote bank. At the national level, our vote share is around 19%. To come to power, we need at least 26-27%. If we don’t engage with new voters, we will continue to sit in opposition,” he said.

Tharoor pointed to his electoral success in Thiruvananthapuram as an example, stating, “My support base extends beyond the Congress’s traditional voters. Even those generally opposed to the party have backed me. This is the approach we need in 2026.”

Maharashtra’s Political Tensions Rise Over Appointment Row

Meanwhile, in Maharashtra, fresh friction has emerged in the Mahayuti government as Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis rejected 16 appointments of Officers on Special Duty (OSDs) and Personal Assistants (PAs) to ministers.

Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut claimed that most of the rejected names were recommended by non-BJP ministers, while senior NCP leader Manikrao Kokate criticized the move, saying, “Even appointing our PAs is now out of our hands.”

The rejections have sparked concerns within the ruling alliance, with insiders suggesting that Fadnavis’s decision signals his intent to maintain greater administrative control. The tension between the BJP, Shiv Sena (Shinde faction), and NCP (Ajit Pawar faction) continues to shape Maharashtra’s complex political landscape.