Kerala veteran CPI(M) leader G. Sudhakaran to contest as Independent candidate from Ambalappuzha in Assembly polls

CPI(M) veteran G. Sudhakaran announces independent candidacy for Ambalappuzha, upholding party ideals while distancing from the party.

Signalling his exit from the party in which he has served for over 63 years, Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI(M)] veteran and former Minister G. Sudhakaran announced on Thursday (March 12, 2026) that he will be contesting as an Independent candidate from the Ambalappuzha constituency in the forthcoming Kerala Assembly elections.

Addressing a press conference, Mr. Sudhakaran, however, said he has “no plans of abandoning the Communist party’s ideals, to which he remains steadfast to”, or to join any other party or front.

Mr. Sudhakaran said he “will not speak ill of the communist party, nor do character assassination of anyone.” He would not have any wall graffiti for the campaign, although he would not oppose it if someone else does it.

To a question as to whether he would accept the support of any other front, Mr. Sudhakaran said he would respond to such questions when support is offered. “I would not speak against the LDF government,” he said.

Mr. Sudhakaran reiterated his earlier statement that he had not applied for membership scrutiny (an annual intra-party exercise) because he felt that the party’s State and district (Alappuzha) leadership had “spurned and ridiculed him”. He said that he will “hit back with full force, but with civility, to any attempts to character assassinate him.”

He cited “the feeling of being insulted” due to such online attacks as one of the reasons behind his decisions to contest.