Can M.A. Baby fill Sitaram Yechury’s shoes? Who is the Kerala ideologue set to become CPI(M)’s new general secretary?

Mariam Alexander Baby, popularly known as M.A. Baby, the Communist ideologue from Kerala is set to become the next national general secretary of the Communist Party of India (Marxist). The 24th party congress of CPI(M) will conclude in Madurai on Sunday.

 

As per reports, Baby a member of CPI(M)’s Politburo since 2012 and All India Kisan Sabha (AIKS) president Ashok Dhawale were the main contenders for the role. Both Baby and Dhawale were backed by Kerala and West Bengal units, respectively.

 

Baby is succeeding Sitaram Yechury, one of the most popular leaders of the party at the national level. CPI(M) leader Prakash Karat was appointed as the party’s coordinator following the demise of Yechury in September last year. Baby is the second leader from Kerala, after Communist stalwart E.M.S. Namboodiripad, to helm the role.

 

Baby will be announced as the next general secretary after the central committee meeting of the party concludes at the Madurai party congress. Reportedly, Karat proposed only Baby’s name in the central committee for the general secretary role.

 

A section of leaders feared choosing Baby could limit the party to Kerala, the only state where the left party is in power now. A few argued for Dhawale as agricultural issues are in focus and the CPI(M) is looking at expanding its base in rural areas.

 

Baby, hailing from Kollam in Kerala has been elected to Rajya Sabha twice, from 1986-1998. He became a Politburo member in CPI(M) 20th party congress in Kozhikode. He was a key face of the Kerala Students Federation under the erstwhile united Communist party. He was the leader of the Students Federation of India during the emergency period and was also imprisoned. He was elected to Rajya Sabha while he was at the helm of affairs of DYFI. Baby was the minister of education in 2006 V.S. Achuthanandhan cabinet in Kerala. Though he contested the 2014 Lok Sabha elections from the Kollam constituency, he lost to RSP leader N.K. Premachandran.

India