Prakash and Brinda Karat to step down as CPM brings in 8 new Politburo members

The changes are being made at the 24th party congress of the CPI(M), which is currently underway at Madurai in Tamil Nadu.

The changes in the structure of the CPI(M) have come at a time when the party is grappling with the loss of its mass base in different parts of the country. It has mostly reduced to Kerala, where it is in power in an alliance of Left partners.

Earlier in the day, it was learnt that M A Baby, former education minister of Kerala and longstanding Politburo member, will become the general secretary of the party.

As the CPI(M) party congress, held once every three years, reaches its culmination on Sunday, party coordinator Prakash Karat is believed to have suggested the name of M A Baby for the top post. The party, however, has not formally announced Baby’s name yet. The announcement is expected to come later in the day on Sunday. The names of other Politburo members are also expected to be released later on Sunday.

Baby, 70, is a leader who has moved up the ranks of the CPI(M) ever since he was part of Students Federation of India (SFI) and later the youth wing of the party, DYFI. He was a Rajya Sabha member from 1986 to 1998.

He belongs to a group of party leaders who believe the CPI(M) must work to regain its mass appeal. In a recent interview, he said, “The party congress is discussing how to regain the mass base of the CPI(M).”