CPM Party Congress Witnesses Election to CC for the First Time
Maharashtra trade unionist D. L. Karad’s unexpected challenge marks a historic moment, underscoring democratic values within the party.
Thiruvananthapuram: For the first time in its history, the Communist Party of India (Marxist) witnessed elections for the central committee during the party Congress.
This election was prompted by a challenge from Maharashtra trade union leader D. L. Karad, who decided to contest against the official panel. He ultimately lost the election, receiving only 31 votes.
Karad's challenge surprised the CPM leadership, as it is common practice for party leaders to be persuaded not to run against the official panel.
After the election, Karad told reporters that he entered the contest on behalf of his colleagues who wanted to ensure a democratic process. "The outcome of the contest is not of major concern to me. I am a staunch party member," he stated.
The newly elected general secretary, M. A. Baby, noted that this was the first time in CPM history that a contest took place during the party Congress. He emphasized that, regardless of the outcome, the event demonstrated the democratic nature of the party's functioning.
