The Communist Party of India (Marxist) is preparing for a leadership transition at the national level. Following the 2022 Kannur Congress, the party is gearing up to choose a new General Secretary, and all eyes are now on one name at the ongoing Madurai conference — MA Baby.

In the 2015 Visakhapatnam Congress, the name of S. Ramachandran Pillai was proposed. However, with the BJP having come to power at the time, the Bengal faction succeeded in promoting Yechury, who brought valuable parliamentary experience to the role. Yechury's tenure continued with the 2018 Hyderabad and 2022 Kannur conferences.

This time, however, the 2025 Madurai conference is progressing through diverse deliberations. The question of who will succeed Yechury is being evaluated with great enthusiasm both within and outside the party.

Given the active role of the Kerala faction in party affairs, their influence is expected to be decisive once again. Despite crossing the age threshold, MA Baby is gaining strong support. Already a Polit Bureau member and part of the Central Secretariat, his potential elevation would reflect his mature and seasoned political experience.

Still, the criticism that the party is “shrinking into Kerala,” which began during the  kerala marxist movement era, might resurface. To counter this, names like B.V. Raghavulu from Andhra Pradesh and Ashok Dhawale from Maharashtra are also being considered. Yet, in the context of national recognition and the party’s leadership transition principles, Baby’s stature remains prominent.

Though names of women leaders like Brinda Karat were also discussed, her voluntary withdrawal has paved the way for Baby to gain further support.

With all these developments, MA Baby’s name is now being discussed with heightened expectations amid the heated political atmosphere in Madurai.

The ball is now in the Kerala faction’s court.

“The time to make the shift is near,” say party workers.