It appears almost certain that Pinarayi will be given another exemption, allowing him to lead the party's campaign in the 2026 Kerala Assembly elections.
Published Mar 06, 2025 | 9:00 AM ⚊ Updated Mar 16, 2025 | 6:09 PM
Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan. (X)
Synopsis: Kollam is set to host the CPI(M)’s 24th state conference from 6 March. The party Congress gains significance as the party is eyeing a third consecutive win in the Assembly elections in 2026. However, discussions are on among party cadres and the general public over Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan getting a likely exemption from the age ceiling for retirement.
Kollam is once again draped in red. The city, a stronghold of Kerala’s leftist movement, has transformed into a sea of fluttering red flags, banners, and wall paintings of Marxist icons and echoing revolutionary slogans.
Its streets are pulsating with the rhythms of old working-class anthems, reviving the spirit of a time when the Left was an unstoppable force in Kerala’s political fabric.
As the CPI(M) gears up for its 24th state conference at the C Kesavan Memorial Town Hall from 6 to 9 March, the historic city stands as both a symbol of the party’s past triumphs and a battleground for its future.
With 530 attendees, including top leaders, 486 delegates, and 75 women, the event is more than just a routine gathering. It is a war room where the party will sharpen its ideological stance, fortify Left unity, and prepare for the 2026 Assembly elections.
Kollam is playing host to this defining moment for the third time. The ancient port city had hosted party congresses in 1971 and 1995.
Starting Thursday, the party will assess its path, challenges, and reaffirm its commitment to society over four days.
The CPI(M) has reportedly decided to exempt Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan from the age limit for holding posts in the party. It may allow the 79-year-old leader to continue in the party’s Politburo and Central Committee despite crossing the age limit set by the party.
CPI(M) state conference in Kollam
The 75-year age ceiling for these posts was introduced during the party congress held in Kannur in 2022. However, given Kerala’s significance as the only state where CPI(M) remains in power, party leadership appears to be making strategic exceptions.
According to highly placed sources, senior leader EP Jayarajan from Kannur is also expected to retain his position in the Central Committee under similar considerations.
Meanwhile, senior Politburo members Prakash Karat, Brinda Karat, Manik Sarkar, Suryakant Mishra, Subhashini Ali, and G Ramakrishnan, too, are above 75.
With eight of the 17 current Politburo members crossing 75, the party’s strict enforcement of the rule could lead to a major reshuffle of the senior leadership.
There are indications that CPI(M) may also revisit its policy of barring individuals from contesting elections after two consecutive terms. A discussion is expected to take place in the lead-up to the next elections.
Given the party’s struggles in regaining power in West Bengal, Kerala’s leadership is expected to play a central role in shaping national strategies.
Pinarayi Vijayan, despite surpassing the age limit in the last party congress, was retained in the politburo due to his role as chief minister. It now appears almost certain that he will be given another exemption, allowing him to lead the party’s campaign in the 2026 Kerala Assembly elections.
Additionally, he will continue to hold a position in the CPI(M) state committee, reinforcing his leadership at both state and national levels.
CPI(M) State Secretary MV Govindan reaffirmed the party’s commitment to enforcing the age limit, emphasising that it would create more opportunities for younger leaders.
A bike rally by Red Volunteers ahead of the party Congress in Kollam.
However, he clarified that the upcoming assembly elections would not be fought solely under Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan but collectively. “As a Politburo member, he always supports group efforts,” Govindan stated.
Senior political journalist Sudeep S Kadavalloor told South First that Pinarayi remains CPI(M)’s only crowd-puller.
“There’s no doubt about it. With K Radhakrishnan now in Parliament, Govindan’s stance occasionally causing friction, and leaders like KK Shailaja losing elections, the party lacks strong mass leaders. The late Kodiyeri Balakrishnan was a commanding presence, but now, Pinarayi is CPI(M)’s only viable option at the national level,” he said.
Kadavalloor highlighted that Kerala remains CPI(M)’s last stronghold in India, crediting Vijayan’s strategic decisions — such as replacing over 40 MLAs, including senior leaders G Sudhakaran and TM Thomas Isaac — for revitalising the party with young faces.
“Despite anti-incumbency, the new MLAs are performing exceptionally well at the grassroots,” he noted.
“But looking ahead, CPI(M) will face challenges. There is no leader of Jyoti Basu’s stature within the party,” he said, adding that CPI(M)’s discreet overtures towards Congress leader Shashi Tharoor suggest its willingness to play political chess behind the scenes.
Ratheesh Thazhathangadi, a suspended CPI(M) member from Kottayam, strongly criticised the decision to grant an age exception to Pinarayi.
“I am not against Pinarayi or his leadership, but the party’s decisions regarding term limits must be respected. The rules should be the same for everyone,” he told South First.
Former minister G Sudhakaran told reporters that while 70% of CPI(M) members are young, the lack of experience remains a major concern, with only a few having more than 10 years of party experience.
He emphasised that capability is more important than age and supported retaining competent leaders rather than enforcing a strict retirement age of 75.
Referring to CPI(M)’s political standing in various states, he pointed out that the party has no MLAs in West Bengal, only a few in Tripura, and maintains representation in Tamil Nadu with DMK’s support and in Rajasthan with Congress’s backing.
He stressed the need for strengthening the party’s presence nationwide and actively promoting Kerala’s developmental governance in other states to ensure the party’s survival.
Meanwhile, KPCC president K Sudhakaran launched a scathing attack on the CPI(M), alleging that the party has become an extension of Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan’s ambitions.
“The CPI(M) in Kerala is essentially the Communist Party of Pinarayi Vijayan. The Politburo, general secretary, and Central Committee are just decorative pieces with no real influence,” he remarked.
The state conference will primarily focus on advancing the ‘Nava Kerala Rekha‘ (New Kerala Document), a policy framework introduced in the previous conference.
This initiative aims to establish Kerala as a model state with a progressive welfare agenda, balancing economic growth with social justice. A key objective of the discussions will be strategising ways to increase the party’s vote share in Kerala to 50%, a crucial target as the Left gears up for future electoral battles.
Another major agenda item is the push to make Kerala a women-friendly state. However, when asked about increasing women’s representation within the state committee, Govindan’s response was a noncommittal “Let’s see”, suggesting that while women’s empowerment remains a talking point, structural changes within the party remain uncertain.
Despite the emphasis on the ‘Nava Kerala Rekha‘, party sources confirm that the CPI(M) Politburo has yet to review the document presented by Pinarayi. This document is expected to outline new governance policies, with the party set to determine its role in implementing these proposals during the conference.
Some recommendations may align with elements of new liberalisation policies. If any ideological shifts are deemed necessary, the Politburo will address them at a later stage.
The leadership has stressed that the CPI(M) will adopt policies that reflect contemporary needs, with the ‘Nava Kerala Rekha’ serving as a guiding framework for the government’s future course.
Despite political hurdles, Govindan highlighted the party’s steady expansion in Kerala.
Since the last state conference in 2021, the party has gained 37,517 new members, increasing its total membership from 5,27,678 to 5,64,895 in 2024. The number of branches has also risen to 38,426, with 3,247 new branches formed in the past three years.
Women’s participation in leadership roles, though still limited, has shown gradual progress. The number of women branch secretaries has increased from 1,991 in 2021 to 2,597 in 2024, while 40 local committees and three area committees now have women secretaries. This growth signals a shift, yet gender representation in decision-making remains a challenge.
As the party prepares for the 2026 Assembly elections, discussions will focus on strengthening the grassroots network, refining ideological positions, and crafting electoral strategies. Banking on its governance record, social welfare policies, and opposition to right-wing forces, the CPI(M) aims to consolidate its stronghold in Kerala.
Whether this translates into electoral success remains to be seen.
(Edited by Majnu Babu).
