The Congress high command on Tuesday appointed senior leader and member of Parliament, K Sudhakaran as the new president of Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC).

The party high command picked the 73-year old leader for the top post replacing Mullappally Ramachandran after days-long discussions in the state and in New Delhi. A firebrand leader and an arch critic of Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, Sudhakaran has been known as the party's face in Kannur, a traditional Left fortress. Known for his sharp speeches and daring personality, he has a strong follower base in north Kerala. He is generally considered as one of the few Congress leaders who are strong enough to take on the ruling CPI(M) in their citadel.

His elevation as KPCC president arguably indicated the appetite among Congress workers to change direction following the party's second consecutive defeat in the Assembly elections. The AICC had also attempted to draw a line under factionalism, which dominated Congress politics in Kerala for decades.

The AICC had also re-engaged with powerful social groups by naming V. D. Satheeshan as Opposition leader and now, K. Sudhakaran as the party's State president. It had also named Kodikunnil Suresh, MP, P T Thomas, MLA and T. Siddique, MLA, as KPCC working presidents. The three leaders represent critical demographics in Kerala.

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