That it was a mission impossible was clear from the beginning itself, given the vice-like grip maintained by the two dominant factions on the party over the years. But full credit to Sudheeran for attempting the achieve the impossible.

In a way, the Sudheeran exit represents a huge setback to the Congress High Command itself. The episode proves, if proof were needed, of further weakening of the authority of the party High Command.

True, Sudheeran has cited heath reasons for deciding to step down. Doctors have advised complete rest and extensive medical treatment for him ever since he had a fall sometime back. But that it is not the real reason is an open secret. The accident has come as a godsend for Sudheeran to make a dignified exit.

Reports have it that the powerful A group led by former chief minister Oommen Chandy had made it clear that unless the KPCC president ordered immediate organizational elections, he would up the ante. Actually, the A group leaders were scheduled to meet Sudheeran. But the accident precluded the meeting.

It had become increasingly evident that the two dominant groups led by Oommen Chandy and Ramesh Chennithala would make it difficult for Sudheeran to implement his agenda of clearing the party of groupism.

In view of the stiff opposition to his plan, Sudheeran obviously decided that the honourable course open to him was to quit. Refusal to do so would have caused an open showdown with the two groups in the days ahead.

That neither Chandy nor Chennithala had reconciled themselves to the appointment of Sudheeran as the KPCC president is well known. What had angered them was the rejection by the High Comand of their candidate for the KPCC chief’s post: G. Karthikeyan, who is no more. Since then, they have waged a silent battle to oust Sudheeran. Oommen Chandy took refuge behind the plea for early organizational polls to accomplish the oust-Sudheeran task. Chandy believed he could win the organizational polls, given his hold on the party’s rank and file and activists.

The High Command saw through the game and delayed the organizational elections. But the two groups were bent upon forcing organizational elections at the earliest. Any further delay in holding the polls would have resulted in an open display of faction feud. Hence the Sudheeran move to resign, instead of causing an ugly showdown.

An immediate fallout of the exit of Sudheeran would be a renewal of the tussle for supremacy in the party. True, Oommen Chandy has ruled out any organizational post for himself. But he would do try his level best to ensure that his candidate becomes the new KPCC president. That would enable him to dictate terms and outsmart Chennithala who right now enjoys an upper hand in the party. That way, what turn the group war would take depends on who becomes the new KPCC chief. If a candidate who is not to the liking of Chandy, who is clearly out of favour with the High Command, manages to get the post, the faction feud would certainly take a turn for the worse. (IPA Service)