Exclusive: BJP opens backchannel talks with K Sudhakaran amid Congress rift

Bengaluru/Kerala

Even as the Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) continues to persuade Kannur Member of Parliament K Sudhakaran to stay away from the upcoming Assembly elections, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has reportedly initiated discreet efforts to bring the senior Congress leader into its fold ahead of the crucial polls in Kerala.

Sources within the BJP, privy to the developments, revealed that with the assistance of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) leaders based in Karnataka, attempts are underway to facilitate a meeting between Sudhakaran and Union Home Minister Amit Shah. The BJP leadership is said to believe that Sudhakaran’s potential exit from the Congress would significantly strengthen its prospects in Kerala, particularly in politically sensitive regions such as Kannur. He is also former KPCC chairman.

However, sources close to Sudhakaran indicate that the veteran leader remains undecided about his next course of action. Describing him as a committed Congress worker and a staunch loyalist, insiders maintain that he has not yet taken any steps towards a political shift. At the same time, internal party dynamics appear to be working against him. It is learnt that K C Venugopal, General Secretary (Organisation) of the All India Congress Committee (AICC), is exerting pressure on the KPCC leadership to keep Sudhakaran out of the Assembly race, despite his stature as a strong contender for the chief ministerial post. 

Meanwhile, BJP sources suggest that the party’s central leadership is keen to act swiftly. A mediator involved in the outreach efforts told this website that he has been in contact with both Sudhakaran and his son. While the latter is reportedly open to the idea, Sudhakaran has not yet given the green signal for a meeting with Amit Shah or other senior BJP leaders.

From a political standpoint, BJP strategists believe that Sudhakaran’s induction could help consolidate support among Other Backward Classes (OBCs), particularly within the Thiyya community to which he belongs. His significant influence and strong grassroots connect in Kannur and surrounding regions are seen as key assets. Notably, there is already visible discontent among his supporters, who are reportedly unhappy with the stance taken by the KPCC leadership and AICC functionaries.

Emotional Appeal and Growing Support Base

All began after the KPCC reportedly asked Sudhakaran to step aside from the electoral race. In response, Sudhakaran posted an emotional message on social media, which has since become a major talking point in Kerala’s political circles. In his post, he stressed that he had always stood at the forefront in protecting Congress workers in Kannur, likening his role to “a mother hen shielding her chicks from stones, knives, and bombs.”

He emphasised his deep-rooted connection with the district, stating that there is no part of Kannur he does not know, and no section of the district unfamiliar with him. Reaffirming his commitment, Sudhakaran declared that he would continue to carry the Congress tricolour and remain a frontline leader for the party in the region.

Calling Kannur his “heart’s blood,” he underscored that the Congress remains central to his identity. He also warned that he could not remain a silent spectator if “communist forces” targeted Congress workers, recalling the district’s long and often violent political history, marked by intense clashes and sacrifices by party cadre.

In the meantime, a steady stream of supporters has been visiting Sudhakaran’s residence, expressing solidarity and urging the party to field him as its candidate from the Kannur constituency. Posters backing him have surfaced outside the District Congress Committee (DCC) office and in nearby areas, calling him “Kannur’s leader” and warning of repercussions if he is sidelined.

His public declaration of readiness to contest has, however, drawn a sharp response from state party leadership. KPCC president and Kannur DCC president Martin George reiterated that the final decision regarding candidate selection rests with the AICC, indicating that the matter is far from settled.