CPI(M) Central Committee Convenes in New Delhi to Chart Future Course Amid Electoral Challenges
New Delhi, June 3, 2025 – The Communist Party of India (Marxist) kicked off its first Central Committee meeting in the capital today, following the election of a new 85-member committee at the 24th Party Congress held in Madurai in April. The three-day meeting, chaired by Polit Bureau member B.V. Raghavulu, saw General Secretary M.A. Baby presenting a political report aimed at addressing the party’s strategic direction amid its declining national influence.
The meeting, which will conclude on June 5, comes at a critical juncture for CPI(M). Once a formidable force with 44 Lok Sabha seats in 2004, the party has seen its electoral presence shrink significantly, particularly after 2009, with its influence now largely confined to Kerala. The recent Party Congress introduced a 75-year age cap for leadership positions, leading to the exit of veterans like Prakash Karat, though an exemption was made for Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, aged 79. This transition reflects CPI(M)’s efforts to rejuvenate its leadership and appeal to a new generation of cadres.
M.A. Baby, the second leader from Kerala to serve as General Secretary after E.M.S. Namboodiripad, is seen as a key figure in this revival. Known for his articulate leadership and experience in Delhi politics, Baby faces the daunting task of revitalizing the party’s presence in states like West Bengal and Tripura, where it has lost significant ground. His political report is expected to address internal challenges, including ideological rifts and organizational weaknesses, some of which have been highlighted by past controversies involving leaders like B.V. Raghavulu, who faced allegations of mismanagement in Andhra Pradesh.
Photographs from the meeting depict a formal setting, with committee members seated around a table equipped with microphones, water bottles, and documents, indicating a structured discussion. The audience, a diverse mix of party cadres including women in traditional attire, reflects CPI(M)’s broad base, though its ideological relevance remains under scrutiny. On X, a user named
@ProudBharatiya6
sharply criticized the party, labeling communists as “agents of the global deep state” and calling for the eradication of Marxism, underscoring the polarized views surrounding CPI(M)’s role in modern Indian politics.
The Central Committee’s agenda includes drafting a political resolution, a practice consistent with past meetings, such as the 2021 Delhi session where the party debated alliances with the Congress. With the Kerala faction historically favoring a Left-led secular alliance against the BJP, this meeting may also explore new electoral strategies to counter the rise of regional parties and the diminishing appeal of communist ideology in a globalized world.
As CPI(M) navigates these challenges, the outcomes of this meeting could shape its trajectory ahead of future elections, determining whether the party can reclaim its relevance in India’s evolving political landscape.
