Senior CPM Leader G Sudhakaran Quits Party Membership Over Alleged Neglect and Mockery
In a significant development within Kerala's political landscape, former minister and senior Communist Party of India (Marxist) leader G Sudhakaran has announced his decision not to renew his party membership. The veteran politician cited continuous neglect and ridicule by top party officials as the primary reasons for his departure.
Facebook Post Reveals Deep-Rooted Grievances
Sudhakaran detailed his grievances in a comprehensive Facebook post, where he expressed frustration with what he described as systematic exclusion and disrespect from the party leadership. He specifically mentioned CPM state secretary M V Govindan and Alappuzha district secretary R Nazar as key figures in this pattern of neglect.
The senior leader revealed that after being removed from the state committee in 2022, he served as a branch committee member under the Alappuzha district committee. Despite his long-standing commitment, he noted that no party leader inquired about his activities in this new role.
Specific Incidents of Disrespect
Sudhakaran highlighted several specific incidents that contributed to his decision:
- During a news conference, state secretary M V Govindan made remarks implying Sudhakaran did not deserve consideration and laughed mockingly, with journalists reportedly finding this amusing
- Despite having a 63-year history with the party, Sudhakaran was not given any public events by the district secretary in the past five years
- When the 50th anniversary of the Emergency was held at EMS Hall near his home, Sudhakaran—the only person in the district who experienced arrest, jail, and police brutality for defying the ban during the early days of the Emergency—did not receive an invitation
- A local committee member posted derogatory comments about Sudhakaran's father
"I did not apply to renew my membership in 2026, so I did not have to pay the subscription fees," Sudhakaran stated in his post. "Despite being a state committee member for 43 years, the district secretary never enquired about my activities after I started working at the branch."
Long History with the Party
Sudhakaran emphasized his extensive history with the CPM, noting his 63-year association and 43 years as a state committee member. He described participating regularly in all branch committee meetings except one due to an injury sustained in a fall.
The former minister stated that despite these challenges, he continued with the party for the past five years without succumbing to any temptations. However, the recent incident involving Govindan's remarks proved to be the final straw.
"No one was willing to question or correct this," Sudhakaran said about Govindan's behavior. "Under these circumstances, I do not wish to cause difficulties to the aforementioned leaders by continuing in the party."
Future Plans and Party Response
Sudhakaran clarified that he would continue to stand firm in his beliefs alongside the masses, even without formal party membership. His wife, Jubilee Navaprabha, indicated that while he would not react immediately to the Facebook post, everything would be disclosed in the coming days.
LDF convener T P Ramakrishnan responded to the situation, stating that Govindan would address the concerns expressed by Sudhakaran. "He may not renew his membership and still continue as a party sympathizer. Many people do that," Ramakrishnan commented, suggesting a possible path forward for the veteran leader.
The development marks a significant moment in Kerala politics, highlighting internal tensions within the CPM leadership and raising questions about how the party handles senior members with decades of service.
