K Sudhakaran’s FB post shakes up Congress

Kozhikode: Congress strongman and MP K Sudhakaran returned to Kannur from Delhi without attending Parliament, expressing discontent over the Congress move not to field sitting MPs in assembly polls. Sudhakaran, who had publicly expressed his desire to contest from Kannur, shared an emotional message on social media, leaving the party in a spot.Soon after the post appeared online, several supporters gathered at his residence in Kannur. "Kannur is the lifeblood of my heart and Congress in Kannur has always been my identity. Just as a mother hen shields her chicks under her wings from stones, knives, sickles and bombs, I have stood at the frontlines and fought to protect my brothers," he wrote in that post.Recalling the sacrifices he made during political struggles in the district, he said Kannur was a land soaked in the blood of Congress workers who fought and prevailed."In the course of protecting my movement, I have never once thought about my home or family. Every leader in Kannur today is someone who grew up holding my hand and worked alongside me. There is no part of Kannur that I do not know and no part of Kannur that does not know me. Others may forget the fiery paths we have travelled, but for me they remain vivid realities that I can never forget, even in death," he wrote.Sudhakaran's move has led to concern in the Congress camp at a time when the party's candidate selection process is nearing completion. The party can ill afford to alienate a senior leader who remains its face in Kannur and commands a following across Kerala.It is learnt that Congress high command will hold and try to pacify him. Party leaders have reportedly conveyed that his views would be considered while finalizing the candidate in Kannur, but this has not eased his dissatisfaction.Congress has maintained that sitting MPs should not contest assembly polls, fearing that making an exception could trigger similar demands from other MPs. Senior Congress leaders, including V D Satheesan, Sunny Joseph and Ramesh Chennithala, have spoken to Sudhakaran and the party leadership has asked him to come to Delhi on Monday for further discussions with the high command.Meanwhile, AICC general secretary K C Venugopal dismissed reports that Sudhakaran went to Kannur due to his differences over candidate selection process. "He went after taking part in our discussions. He had a long talk with KPCC chief Sunny Joseph on Thursday. He had a reason and so he went," said Venugopal.Posters also surfaced near Kannur DCC office warning of consequences if Sudhakaran is sidelined in electoral plans.Meanwhile, opposition leader V D Satheesan said Sudhakaran is a leader who has loyalty and steadfast commitment to the party. He said that there was nothing unusual about MPs returning to their home state on a Friday, pointing out that many have done so and Sudhakaran would have done the same. Satheesan added that Sudhakaran's Facebook post only reflects his deep emotional connection to Kannur, the constituency he represents in Lok Sabha.