THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: MV Govindan, who succeeded Kodiyeri Balakrishnan as the state secretary and subsequently became a member of the PB, will now be the organizational voice of Kerala in the party's highest policy-making committee. Apart from Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, MA Baby and A Vijayaraghavan from Kerala are also in the PB. MA Baby is in charge of international affairs.

When S Ramachandran Pillai stepped down from the Polit Bureau, Vijayaraghavan was admitted to the quota of the All India Centre. Kodiyeri Balakrishnan, who was the state secretary, was the official voice of the Kerala party in PB, as the chief minister has administrative responsibility in Kerala. Now, Govindan will become the official voice of the Kerala party.

Govindan, who was elevated to the central committee at the 2018 Hyderabad party congress, had stepped down from the state secretariat at the recent state conference in Kochi. However, when the post of CPM state secretary came unexpectedly to him, he again became a part of the party's state centre.

It is estimated that the central leadership's desire to have a strong ideological and organizational face to lead the Kerala Party in the complicated political climate led to Govindan's appointment as secretary.

Like Kodiyeri, Govindan is also a confidant of the Chief Minister. He is the epitome of simplicity and honesty. He was a sports teacher. Govindan retired from there and turned to full-time party work. He recently resigned from the state cabinet to take up the post of CPM state secretary.