Names of two leaders from Kerala considered for temporary charge of Yechury

NEW DELHI: A decision has been taken to give temporary charge to someone from the politburo to replace Sitaram Yechury, the main leader and general secretary of the CPM, who passed away yesterday. The leaders said that a decision will be taken only after a week. Sitaram Yechury's sudden demise was when he was about to step down from the post of general secretary after completing three terms, at the CPM Party Congress to be held in Madurai from April 2-6 in 2025.

The names of M A Baby and A Vijayaraghavan are being raised as substitutes. More things will be decided in the next PB meeting. In the 17-member CPM PB, Prakash Karat, Vrinda Karat and Manik Sarkar have crossed the party age limit of 75.

Meantime, CITU leader Tapan Sen from West Bengal, B V Raghavalu from Andhra and M A Baby from Kerala are the senior leaders among those who have not crossed the age limit among those present in PB. Among them, chances are more likely for Baby.

When M A Baby vacated the post of SFI All India President forty years ago, Sitaram Yechury succeeded him. Now when Yechury fades into history, chances are for Baby to replace him. The support of Kerala factor is crucial in this. Apart from Baby, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, M V Govindan and A Vijayaraghavan are in the politburo from Kerala.

As Tapan Sen is in the trade union area, the chances for him are less, but Raghavalu may be considered as a senior leader. Among the PB members Nilotpal Basu and Muhammad Salim from Bengal, Nilotpal is junior but an emerging leader. However, if a woman is considered to be in charge till the next party congress, Vrinda can be chosen without considering age. The next woman is Subhashini Ali but her chances are less. Former chief minister of Tripura Manik Sarkar may also be considered irrespective of age limit.