'Not now, will decide CM face in Kerala later'; M A Baby responds

MADURAI: CPM General Secretary MA Baby, in his first response to media after getting promoted in the ranks, revealed that the party’s immediate goal would be to ensure CPM win the Kerala assembly elections in 2026. Baby dismissed discussions of the possible new CM candidate for the state.

Baby also clarified that Pinarayi Vijayan would lead the Left Democratic Front in political campaigning and organizational matters in the next assembly elections.

“If the work is commendable, people would have no qualms in electing CPM again in Kerala. The party congress has already planned the works needed to ensure Kerala remain under CPM rule." said Baby.

Mariam Alexander Baby, the veteran Marxist from Kerala and the former minister in the state, will now helm the affairs of the CPM in the country. Baby was selected the new General Secretary of the CPM after getting the Politburo's approval. MA Baby will thus become the second Malayali to reach the general secretary post after veteran EMS Namboodiripad.

The recommendation was reached before the Politburo on Saturday, but the decision was delayed until Sunday morning.

Apart from MA Baby, the names of Politburo members Ashok Dhawale from Maharashtra and Raghavulu from Andhra Pradesh were considered for the post of General Secretary. Raghavalu had indicated in a press conference the other day that he would not run for the post.

It is reported that the Bengal unit will not demand a vote for electing the General secretary. Apart from Kerala members, MA Baby had the support of Politburo coordinator Prakash Karat. The Bengal unit had rooted for Dhawale, who recently provided strong leadership to the farmers' strike and other issues. The Bengal faction opined that the party would have benefitted from Dhawale’s leadership.

However, the politburo decided to pick a leader from Kerala, the last remaining stronghold of communist forces. The selection is believed to have a decisive impact on the growth of the organization.