New Delhi: For the third time, Sitaram Yechury has been re-elected as the CPM general secretary. The party's 23rd Congress, which ended on Sunday in Kannur, also elected a 17-member Politburo and an 85-member Central Committee. The PB will have Dalit representation for the first time in its history due to Ram Chandra Dome.
Three fresh faces have joined the Polit Buro. Others who were picked include All India Kissan Sabha president Ashok Dhawle and notable West Bengal leader Ram Chandra Dome. Senior Kerala leader and LDF convener A Vijayaraghvan made it to the highest decision-making body from Kerala, The New Indian Express reported.
Despite the fact that veteran Kerala leader AK Balan's name was being floated, the party chose Ram Chandra Dome.
"For the first time, the party has a Dalit joining the Polit Buro," Yechury was quoted by The New Indian Express in its report.
S Ramachandran Pillai of Kerala, Biman Bose of West Bengal, and Hannan Mollah of West Bengal were all ousted from the Politburo after reaching the age of 75. The three of them will be admitted to the Central Committee as special invitees.
The party also named its new Central Committee, which consists of 85 members, including 17 newcomers. There are 15 female members in total. One of the slots was left empty. This time, the CC has been reduced from 95 in 2018 to 84.
Ministers KN Balagopal and P Rajeeve were elected to the central committee as predicted.
Two women from the state were elected to the central committee this time around. Former MP CS Sujatha and Kerala Women's Commission Chairperson P Sathidevi are among them.
They are both presidents of the All India Democratic Women's Association. P Karunakaran, Vaikom Viswan, and MC Josephine, all from Kerala, were dismissed from the Central Committee.