The Communist Party of India (Marxist) Polit Bureau on Friday is learnt to have set aside discussion on leadership issues till August and dedicate this weekend’s meeting of the Central Committee to analysing the results of the Lok Sabha elections.
That there would be no immediate change in leadership was confirmed by veteran leader and former Kerala Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan. Interacting briefly with reporters at the party headquarters, he said, “I enquired if there was going to be a change in leadership and was informed that there was no truth in the media reports.” As to whether he thought a leadership change was necessary, he answered in the negative.
Ever since the party posted its worst ever performance in a Lok Sabha poll, there have been demands – particularly within the West Bengal unit – for a leadership change. A section in the State unit is of the view that the party needs to be more pro-active in West Bengal to not just wrest back its stronghold from the Trinamool Congress but prevent the Bharatiya Janata Party from occupying the Opposition space there.
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Besides, Polit Bureau member Sitaram Yechury and Kerala legislator M.A. Baby offered to resign ahead of Friday’s meeting. Neither could be taken up as it was communicated that leadership issues would be discussed in August. Mr. Yechury offered to resign from the Polit Bureau at its last meeting saying it would create room for younger blood to be brought into the party’s highest decision-making body.
Mr. Baby – who lost the Lok Sabha elections from Kollam – offered to resign from the Kerala Assembly as he failed to hold on to even his sitting Kundara Assembly segment.