M.A. Baby named CPI(M) General Secretary despite opposition from key Politburo members during the 24th Party Congress in Madurai.
In a pivotal moment for India’s Left movement, senior Communist Party of India (Marxist) leader and Politburo member M.A. Baby has been elected the new General Secretary of the CPI(M) during the party’s 24th Congress, currently concluding in Madurai, Tamil Nadu. His elevation was confirmed after the Politburo’s recommendation was formally ratified by the Central Committee, which presently has 84 members, with one vacancy.
I Also Read : Jitendra Choudhury Joins CPI-M Politburo, Replaces Manik Sarkar I
The appointment marks a historic return for Kerala at the helm of the CPI(M). M.A. Baby becomes the second leader from the state to hold the party’s highest office, after the legendary E.M.S. Namboodiripad, a founding figure of the Indian communist movement. While Prakash Karat, a former General Secretary, also hails from Kerala, he had served as a representative of the party’s New Delhi unit during his tenure in the top post.
Legacy of EMS and Kerala’s Influence
E.M.S. Namboodiripad’s legacy looms large over the CPI(M). He served as acting General Secretary of the undivided Communist Party of India (CPI) in 1953–54 and 1955–56, and as General Secretary of the CPI in 1962–63. After the party split in 1964, he led the CPI(M) as General Secretary from 1978 to 1991, shaping its ideological and organizational framework.
With M.A. Baby’s appointment, Kerala once again finds itself at the epicenter of the party’s national leadership, further solidifying its stature as a key pillar of the Indian Left.
Baby’s selection was not without controversy. Party sources indicate that five members of the Politburo voiced opposition to his elevation. These included Surya Kanta Mishra, Nilotpal Basu, Mohammed Salim, and Ramchandra Dome, all from West Bengal, along with Ashok Dhawale from Maharashtra.
Internal Dissent Over Baby’s Elevation
However, Baby’s selection was not without controversy. Party sources indicate that five members of the Politburo voiced opposition to his elevation. These included Surya Kanta Mishra, Nilotpal Basu, Mohammed Salim, and Ramchandra Dome, all from West Bengal, along with Ashok Dhawale from Maharashtra. Their dissent is seen as reflective of internal differences over both ideological strategy and regional representation within the party.
Despite the resistance, Prakash Karat—who continues to wield considerable influence in the CPI(M)—is reported to have firmly endorsed M.A. Baby as his sole choice for the General Secretary’s post, lending significant weight to the final decision.
Party Relaxes Age Cap to Retain Senior Leaders
In another key development during the Congress, the party amended its age-limit rule, which currently bars leaders over 75 from holding key positions. This allowed P.K. Sreemathy and Mohammed Yousuf Tarigami to remain in the Central Committee, and extended a similar waiver to Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, who at 79, will continue to serve in the Politburo. These exemptions underscore the CPI(M)’s desire to retain experienced hands during a time of transition, while also balancing pressures to promote younger leadership.
New Politburo Formed, With Stronger Regional Balance
The newly constituted Politburo includes a mix of established leaders and newer entrants, such as Mariam Dhawale, Jitendra Chaudhury, Amra Ram, Vijoo Krishnan, Arun Kumar, Srideep Bhattacharya, U. Vasuki, and K. Balakrishnan. With Vasuki and Balakrishnan’s appointments, Tamil Nadu now has two representatives in the Politburo—a significant boost for the state’s influence within the party’s top decision-making body.
Senior leaders Prakash Karat, Brinda Karat, and Manik Sarkar—who are no longer part of the Politburo—have been designated as special invitees, allowing them to participate in key discussions without holding formal office.
New Faces and Close Contests in the Central Committee
One of the notable new entrants to the Central Committee is John Brittas, a journalist-turned-politician and Rajya Sabha MP from Kerala. Brittas has been inducted as a special invitee, reflecting the party’s effort to tap into media-savvy leadership capable of engaging with broader audiences.
Meanwhile, in a closely followed electoral contest, veteran Maharashtra trade unionist D.L. Karad, who also serves as state president of the Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU), stood for a seat in the Central Committee. However, he garnered only 31 votes—an outcome that highlighted the competitive and democratic nature of internal elections within the party. Speaking to the media, Karad stated that his candidacy was encouraged by fellow members who sought a transparent contest and added that the result was not of personal concern to him.
A Strategic Shift in CPI(M)’s National Profile
At 72, M.A. Baby is widely regarded as a seasoned ideologue, known for his roles in both party organization and governance. A former Kerala education and cultural affairs minister, he has long been seen as a key thinker within the CPI(M), with strong ties to its grassroots and intellectual wings.
His leadership comes at a critical time for the party, as it attempts to expand its shrinking base beyond traditional strongholds like Kerala, West Bengal, and Tripura. With generational and regional shifts now underway, the CPI(M) under Baby is expected to balance continuity with renewal, as it seeks relevance in a rapidly changing political landscape.
