Sat Apr 12 20:44:00 UTC 2025: ## CPI(M) Appoints Mariam Alexander Baby as New General Secretary

**Madurai, April 13, 2025** – Mariam Alexander Baby has been elected as the new General Secretary of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI(M)], marking a significant shift in the party’s leadership. The announcement came at the conclusion of the party’s 24th Congress in Madurai. Baby, a veteran leader from Kerala, is only the second Keralite to hold this position, following E.M.S. Namboodiripad.

Baby’s career has been deeply rooted in left-wing politics, beginning with his involvement in student activism in the 1970s. He rose through the ranks, serving as the State president of the Students Federation of India (SFI) and later the national president of both the SFI and the Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI). He also served as a Rajya Sabha member and a Minister for Education and Cultural Affairs in the Kerala government. His tenure as Minister was marked by both achievements, such as the establishment of the Kochi-Muziris Biennale, and controversies surrounding a textbook chapter on secularism and his comments on an assault case.

While Baby enjoyed success at the state level, his 2014 Lok Sabha election defeat left a mark. He now takes the reins of the CPI(M) at a challenging time for the party, which has recently faced setbacks in key states like Tripura and West Bengal. His lack of a strong national profile compared to his predecessor, Sitaram Yechury, presents a hurdle.

Baby faces numerous challenges, including unifying a fragmented Left, defining the party’s role within the INDIA bloc, and securing a victory in the upcoming Kerala Assembly elections. His leadership will be crucial in navigating these complex political dynamics.

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