Madurai (Tamil Nadu), April 6: Former Kerala Education Minister Mariam Alexander Baby, widely known as MA Baby, has been elected as the General Secretary of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) at the party's 24th All India Conference in Madurai on Sunday.
MA Baby, a prominent figure in the party, served as a member of the Rajya Sabha from 1986 to 1998. The CPI(M) highlighted that the newly elected Central Committee includes 20 percent women members, underscoring the party's commitment to gender inclusivity. The party also announced that the 24th Party Congress has elected an 85-member Central Committee, leaving one vacancy. Additionally, an 18-member Polit Bureau was formed, with MA Baby taking up the role of General Secretary.
The position of General Secretary became vacant after the death of Sitaram Yechury last year. Following this, Prakash Karat had served as the interim coordinator. Yechury passed away on September 12 at AIIMS Hospital after battling a respiratory tract infection. Known for his affable nature and wide-ranging political connections, Sitaram Yechury was one of the most influential Left leaders in India. He was recognized for his sharp parliamentary interventions and his ability to craft pragmatic alliances that advanced the party's political objectives. Despite the decline in the party's fortunes, Yechury maintained significant influence in national politics.
Yechury's association with CPI(M) began in 1975 when he joined the party and was later arrested during the Emergency for his political activism. He was elected to the Central Committee at the party's 12th Congress in 1985, and his rise continued through the years, with him being elected to the Central Secretariat in 1989 and the Polit Bureau in 1992. In 2015, he was appointed as the General Secretary of the CPI(M), a position he held until his passing. Yechury also served two terms in the Rajya Sabha, from 2005 to 2017, where he was known for his effectiveness as a parliamentarian. He was honored with the Best Parliamentarian award in 2017.
