CPI-M Elects M A Baby As New General Secretary; Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan Granted Age Exemption

Chennai: Kerala-based CPI-M politburo member M A Baby was on Sunday elected general secretary of the party at its 24th national congress in Madurai. He succeeds Sitaram Yechury, who passed last year. 

On the concluded day of the congress, the party also elected its 18-member Politburo. It now has eight new members. Significantly, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, was granted exemption from the age limit of 75 for continuing in his post.

The 71-year old Baby had been a long time member of the party since his student days. He was a member of the Kerala Students Federation and the Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI). He had served as national president of the Students Federation of India and DYFI and a central committee member of the party. He has held various election positions including that of a Rajya Sabha member and Education Minister in Kerala.