Catholic Church denies recommending any name for KPCC president post

Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee president K. Sudhakaran (file)
| Photo Credit: H. VIBHU

Amid ongoing discussions around a leadership change in the Congress party in Kerala, the Catholic Church has categorically denied reports suggesting it lobbied for appointing a Catholic as the next president of the Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC).

In an editorial published in Deepika on Tuesday (May 6, 2025), the official mouthpiece of the Catholic Church, the institution strongly refuted the claim that it sought any political favours or attempted to influence party appointments. The article also emphasised that the Church “has no interest” in determining how many ministerial posts or party positions should be allotted.

“Stand for all people, regardless of caste or creed – not for any particular religion. The Catholic Church has no intention of demanding ministerial roles or party positions. More important than the sharing of posts is the non-discriminatory distribution of justice. What matters is not the face of the party president, but the secular character of the party. What matters is not the dominance of the Chief Minister over the party, but the commitment to the Constitution,” read the editorial.

It, at the same time, also cautioned that the KPCC should be “helmed by someone capable of resolving internal rifts and curbing the unchecked pursuit of power within the party.”

‘Chronic infighting’

Dismissing media reports that claimed that the Church had proposed names for the KPCC presidency as baseless, the article sought to turn the spotlight on what it described as Congress’ “chronic infighting.”

“It is no just for the Chief Minister and the KPCC president but the scramble for minor positions or even a seat on the stage, has always diminished the stature of the Congress party. Ironically, it is the senior leaders who are now the greatest burden to the party,” the editorial noted.

Underscoring that religious institutions have no role in settling political disputes, the piece also addressed speculation that the appointment of a Christian leader might ease the community’s discontent over certain Congress stances. “It is under the guise of this assumption that rumours have spread, suggesting that the Catholic Church proposed a name for the KPCC leadership,” it added.

Posters backing Sudhakaran emerge

Meanwhile, the tussle over the appointment of a new KPCC president appears to be now spilling onto the streets in Kottayam. Posters supporting KPCC president K. Sudhakaran have appeared across the region, particularly from Pala to Erattupetta.

The posters, issued in the name of Save Congress Raksha Samithi, Poonjar, declare support for Mr. Sudhakaran, hailing him as a “leader with spine” and someone capable of unseating Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan.

The poster campaign appears to have lent visible momentum to a recent public demonstration staged by a section of Congress workers opposing Anto Antony, a native of Poonjar, whose name is reportedly under consideration as a contender for the KPCC president post.