KANNUR: With the CPM's 23rd party congress set to begin tomorrow in Kannur, discussions are active about the newcomers to the PB and the central committee. If the age limit of 75 is tightened, young men and women are likely to be considered to replace several veteran leaders in the central committee. If S Ramachandran Pillai, who is 84 years old, has to quit PB, LDF convener A Vijayaraghavan is more likely to replace him. AK Balan may also be considered.

Apart from SRP, Biman Bose (82) from Bengal and Kisan Sabha General Secretary Hannan Mollah (76) may also resign from the PB. 75-year-old Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan will be given an exemption. All current PB members are between 65 and 85. The PB currently has 17 members. The members from Kerala are Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, State Secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan, MA Baby and S Ramachandran Pillai.

The Central Committee has 18 members from Kerala, including special invitees VS Achuthanandan and Paloli Muhammed Kutty. Apart from VS and Paloli, P. Karunakaran, Vaikom Vishwan and M.C. Josephine is also likely to be excluded from the Central Committee. Instead, ministers P.A. Muhammad Riyaz, P. Rajeev, K.N. Balagopal and state committee members CS Sujatha and Dr TN Seema may be considered. It remains to be seen whether Kerala's representation in both the PB and the central committee will increase because of the fact that it is the only party-ruled state in India.