Thiruvananthapuram, May 12 – Marking a significant leadership transition in Kerala’s Congress unit, senior leader and three-time MLA Sunny Joseph officially assumed charge as the new president of the Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) on Monday. The ceremony was held at the KPCC headquarters in Thiruvananthapuram, where outgoing president K Sudhakaran handed over the reins.
New Leadership Team Formed
Alongside Joseph, several other leaders were appointed to key roles within the party’s state leadership. P C Vishnunath MLA, Shafi Parambil MP, and A P Anil Kumar MLA took charge as working presidents of the KPCC, while Adoor Prakash MP assumed the position of United Democratic Front (UDF) convener.The induction of the new team comes at a crucial juncture, as the Congress prepares for upcoming local body elections and the 2026 Kerala Assembly polls. A large number of party workers and senior leaders were present to witness the transition, signaling a show of unity and support for the new leadership.
Support from Party Veterans
Before assuming office, Sunny Joseph visited veteran Congress leader A K Antony at his residence to seek his blessings. Speaking to the media later, Antony expressed full confidence in Joseph and his team, stating that the All India Congress Committee (AICC) had entrusted them with the mission of revitalizing the party’s prospects in Kerala.“I have complete confidence that the new team led by Joseph can fulfil their responsibility. If they can win the trust of all sections of people besides strengthening the Congress and the UDF, we can achieve a greater victory in 2026 than the party garnered in 2001,” Antony said.
Strategic Overhaul by AICC
The leadership change, announced on May 8, ended weeks of speculation and internal debate within the state unit. While K Sudhakaran had initially opposed his removal from the KPCC post, the AICC chose to inject fresh energy into the state unit by appointing Joseph as his successor.In a move aimed at maintaining intra-party balance, Sudhakaran has been appointed a permanent invitee to the Congress Working Committee (CWC), a key decision-making body of the party.
The reshuffle is widely seen as part of the Congress’s strategic efforts to rejuvenate its organisational strength in Kerala, where the party aims to reclaim power in the next assembly elections.
