CPI-M Faces Dilemma in Choosing New General Secretary and Politburo Members
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Synopsis
As the CPI-M Party Congress nears, the leadership is grappling with the selection of a new General Secretary and Politburo members due to age restrictions affecting senior leaders.
Key Takeaways
- Intense discussions for new General Secretary.
- Age limit concerns for Politburo members.
- Brinda Karat emerges as a potential candidate.
- Vijayan's influence in party decisions.
- Possible new leadership formation at the Congress.
Thiruvananthapuram, March 27 (NationPress) As the 24th CPI-M Party Congress approaches in Madurai starting April 2, intense discussions are underway within the party to finalize the next General Secretary along with the new members for the Politburo and Central Committee.
The challenge facing the leadership is the retirement of party members who are aged 75 and above.
Currently, the only exception is Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, who is nearing 80.
Other senior members who have surpassed the 75-year mark include the acting General Secretary Prakash Karat, his spouse Brinda Karat, Manik Sarkar, Subhashini Ali, Surjya Kanta Mishra, and G. Ramakrishnan.
Prakash Karat has publicly stated that the decision regarding extensions will be made during the discussions at the Party Congress.
In an unexpected turn, Brinda Karat has been named as a speaker at the major session, fueling speculation that she may not only receive an extension but could also emerge as a potential candidate for the new General Secretary position.
With Vijayan being the sole CPI-M Chief Minister in power, his influence has grown significantly, and while the West Bengal faction is not supportive of Brinda Karat, both Vijayan and the Kerala unit are backing her for various reasons.
Meanwhile, names like M.A. Baby and Ashok Dhawale, the All India Kisan Sabha President from Maharashtra, are also gaining attention. However, since Vijayan is not particularly keen on Baby, Dhawale’s chances for elevation to a top party position cannot be dismissed.
A political analyst noted that within the current 17-member Politburo, two positions are vacant, and with eight members exceeding the 75 age threshold, the Party Congress faces a significant challenge ahead.
"The Congress is likely to grant exemptions to more members. It must also decide how to handle those who will surpass the age limit when the new Central Committee is formed. If exemptions are kept to a minimum, it could lead to a fresh leadership for the CPI-M," the analyst remarked.
Nevertheless, the party appears to have opted to accommodate those over 75 by assigning them key roles.
Among the current Central Committee members from Kerala who have passed 75 years are former ministers E.P. Jayarajan and P.K. Sreemathi.
Another name to watch closely will be P.A. Mohammed Riyas, the Kerala Tourism Minister and son-in-law of Vijayan, particularly regarding his potential inclusion in the Central Committee, as he was an unexpected choice for a ministerial role and later joined the state Secretariat in 2022.
