Chennai: In a landmark decision, senior CPI(M) leader M.A. Baby has been nominated as the party’s next General Secretary, becoming the first leader from Kerala to hold the post since the legendary E.M.S. Namboodiripad. Baby will serve as the sixth General Secretary in the party’s history.
The nomination, proposed by Polit Bureau Coordinator Prakash Karat, received strong backing at the Polit Bureau meeting , with 11 out of 16 members extending support. The final ratification will come from the Central Committee, but internal sources suggest that the Bengal faction, which initially opposed the move, will not press for a vote.
Among the five members who opposed Baby’s nomination were West Bengal leaders Surjyakanta Mishra, Mohammed Salim, Nilotpal Basu, and Ramchandra Dome, along with Maharashtra-based farmer leader Ashok Dhawale.
In another significant development, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan will reportedly continue as a Polit Bureau member with special exemption, signaling his continued influence in national party affairs.
As part of a generational shift in leadership, the Polit Bureau will also see the induction of several new faces including Mariam Dhawale, U. Vasuk, Amra Ram, Viju Krishnan, Arun Kumar, and Srideep Bhattacharya, replacing veteran leaders like Prakash Karat, Brinda Karat, and Manik Sarkar.
The party is also considering extending exemptions for senior leaders like P.K. Sreemathi and Mohammad Yousuf Tarigami (Jammu & Kashmir) to continue in the Central Committee despite surpassing the age limit.
This major reshuffle marks a pivotal moment for the CPI(M) as it looks to balance experience with fresh leadership in a crucial political phase.
