In a sudden turn of events that could reshape the Congress's strategy in its northern stronghold, sitting MP K Sudhakaran has reportedly proposed Youth Congress leader Rijil Makkutty as the candidate for the Kannur Assembly seat.

The shift in stance

The development follows a high-stakes standoff within the party. Just minutes ago, Sudhakaran signaled an end to the internal crisis by announcing his decision to "toe the party line”, effectively stepping back from his previous insistence on contesting the seat himself.

Who is Rijil Makkutty?

Rijil Makkutty is a high-profile youth leader from Kannur, widely recognised as the most trusted lieutenant of KPCC president K Sudhakaran. His political identity is defined by aggressive grassroots activism and a staunch "Sudhakaran-style" of functioning in the Congress party’s northern stronghold.

Current roles: He is a member of the KPCC and recently made headlines by winning the Adikkadalai division in the Kannur Corporation elections (December 2025), wresting a long-held seat from the LDF.

Youth leadership: He formerly served as the state vice president of the Kerala Youth Congress and was the Parliament Mandalam President in Kannur.

The beef fest controversy: In 2017, Makkutty gained national attention—and faced temporary suspension from the party—after leading a protest against the Center's cattle slaughter ban by publicly slaughtering a calf in Kannur. Though criticized by Rahul Gandhi at the time, he was later reinstated and remains a popular figure among the party's local cadres.

The ‘Sudhakaran factor’: Known as Sudhakaran's ‘blue-eyed boy’, Makkutty’s rise is often seen as a reflection of Sudhakaran’s continued dominance over Kannur politics. He is frequently at the forefront of the party's street protests and has faced numerous political cases for his activism.

Why his nomination matters?

By suggesting Makkutty for the Kannur seat, Sudhakaran is effectively ensuring that even if he "toes the party line" by not contesting himself, the leadership of his home turf remains with a loyalist who can counter the CPM with equal aggression.