Kodikunnil Suresh invites G. Sudhakaran to Congress, slams CPI(M) for insulting senior leader

Congress Working Committee member Kodikunnil Suresh, MP, has extended a formal invitation to veteran Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI(M)] leader and former Minister G. Sudhakaran to the Congress.

Expressing strong disapproval of the CPI(M) leadership’s current stance, Mr. Suresh described the neglect and derogatory remarks directed at Mr. Sudhakaran over the past few years as extremely unfortunate. He observed that such treatment towards a leader with over six decades of political service and four decades of State committee membership was a direct affront to the spirit of democratic politics.

Noting that the senior leader had faced arrest and imprisonment for protesting during the Emergency, the MP said that it was an unhealthy political culture to ignore the rich life experiences of such a leader and to systematically exclude him from public functions. He also added that the current leadership’s tendency to mock those who held differing opinions was a departure from Kerala’s esteemed political traditions.

Showers praise

Mr. Suresh also took the opportunity to praise Mr. Sudhakaran’s tenure as the PWD Minister stating that he ensured a corruption-free administration with focus on transparency and quality. He pointed out that many of the bridges and infrastructure projects that the Left Democratic Front currently took pride in were the results of Mr. Sudhakaran’s vision. He pointed out that history would record him as a leader who laid a strong foundation for Kerala’s infrastructure development.

In a sharp critique of the current political climate in Alappuzha, Mr. Suresh accused local MLAs and Ministers mentored by Mr. Sudhakaran of showing ingratitude and betrayal. “Publicly ridiculing a senior leader who helped shape their careers is a classic example of the politics of opportunism. While ideological differences are natural, personal defamation and the denial of a leader’s historical service remain unacceptable,” he said in a statement.

Welcoming Mr. Sudhakaran into the secular democratic fold, Mr. Suresh said that the Congress provided a platform that respected democratic values, freedom of speech, and organisational decency. “Mr. Sudhakaran’s immense experience will be a powerful asset to progressive politics in Kerala. It’s time for a unified effort to protect democracy, secularism, and social justice, offering a space where the veteran leader will receive the dignity and consideration he deserves,” he said.