VIJAYAWADA: Doraiswami Raja (73), a Tamil Nadu native and a Dalit face, was unanimously elected as the General Secretary of the CPI by the 24th Party Congress. A 125-member National Council, 30-member National Executive and 11-member National Secretariat were elected. The number of members from Kerala in the National Council has increased from 11 to 12.

K Prakash Babu and Rajya Sabha member P Santosh reached the National Executive. P Santhosh, who reached the National Council for the first time in the All India Center Quota, got immediately elevated to the National Executive. Ministers K Rajan, P Prasad, GR Anil, Deputy Speaker Chittayam Gopakumar, Rajaji Mathew Thomas and PP Suneer are also newcomers to the National Council from Kerala. Four ministers, including J Chinchu Rani, are members of the National Council.