"Party is big, I am small": K Sudhakaran pledges loyalty to Congress, ends standoff over Kannur seat

NEW DELHI: Despite being denied the Kannur seat, K. Sudhakaran, MP, stated that he will not enter into a conflict with the party leadership. Emphasising his loyalty, Sudhakaran affirmed that he has no intention of leaving the party. He further dismissed rumours of contesting as an independent candidate, asserting that he is not prepared to challenge the organisation. "The party is very big, and I am very small," he remarked. Speaking to the media in Delhi, he maintained that he would remain active in his political duties without defying the party, noting that he remains a member in good standing.

Sudhakaran’s reconciliation comes after a four-day standoff that kept the party leadership on edge. The situation was resolved following a direct intervention by AICC President Mallikarjun Kharge, who persuaded him to fall in line. The prolonged dispute over the Kannur seat had significantly delayed the candidate selection process. The friction initially began when Sudhakaran expressed "110 percent certainty" that he would contest. Notably, he had been removed from the post of KPCC President following an earlier agreement to provide him with an Assembly seat.

The former KPCC President’s declaration of continued loyalty provides significant relief to the state leadership. Sudhakaran noted that he has supporters across 29 constituencies and assured that they would all be actively involved in the upcoming election campaign. By unequivocally denying rumours of a defection or an independent bid, Sudhakaran has cleared a major hurdle for the Congress party’s campaign strategy.