Veteran CPI(M) leader G. Sudhakaran on Thursday confirmed his candidature from the Ambalappuzha constituency as an independent candidate in the upcoming Kerala Assembly elections. Sudhakaran, who served as the Minister for Public Works and Registration in the first Pinarayi Vijayan cabinet, stated that he will not speak against the CPI(M), its programmes, or its principles.
The 75-year-old Sudhakaran, celebrated as one of the visionary leaders of the CPI(M) in Kerala, clarified that he has not spoken to any opposition parties or alliances. He criticised certain sections of the media for spreading fake news claiming he had already agreed to terms with the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF). Interestingly, the UDF is yet to give any hint regarding its candidate for Ambalappuzha, which is currently represented by H. Salam. It is rumoured that the Congress-led alliance left Ambalappuzha vacant as they plan to support Sudhakaran if he were to exit the LDF.
"M.A. Baby spoke to me yesterday over the phone; around a week ago, C.S. Sujatha visited and we discussed politics. There is no reason for any CPM leaders to come to me with any missions," G. Sudhakaran told the press at his residence.
Countering the claim that he remains power-hungry and is frustrated by the lack of opportunities, the 75-year-old leader said the CPI(M) is "feeding" political criminals and using them to defame the likes of him. Condemning vile personal attacks orchestrated against him, the former Co-operation, Coir, and Electricity Minister said that even his late father was not spared.
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He cornered those who used the Left party's "two-term policy" to criticise him by asking how T.M. Thomas Isaac, his former cabinet colleague, was fielded from Pathanamthitta in the recent Lok Sabha polls. He also mentioned A.M. Ariff, who unsuccessfully contested the Lok Sabha seat against K.C. Venugopal from Alappuzha, before pointing out that 12 leaders, including incumbent Health Minister Veena George, are preparing to contest again. "You can't ask them [why they contested again] and you shouldn't ask me. Seats should be given to those who stand the best chance of winning; that's all I have to say," Sudhakaran said.
As he recounted his decades-long association with the Left party, Sudhakaran said that the influence of the party is dwindling and that those concerned need to keep an eye out.
While Sudhakaran confirmed that he had no plans to quit the CPI(M) to join any other party, the UDF could still support his candidature from the outside by not fielding an official candidate. The Ambalappuzha seat in Alappuzha has remained a red bastion over the decades. In the 2021 polls, the incumbent MLA, Salam, defeated his nearest rival, M. Liju of the Congress, by a margin of 11,125 votes. Sudhakaran had won the seat in 2016 by 22,621 votes, while his victory margin was 16,580 votes in 2011.