D Raja was re-elected as the General Secretary of the Communist Party of India (CPI) for a third term, following the party’s triennial congress in Chandigarh. His continuation in the post — despite strong, last-minute opposition from the Kerala unit — was made possible after the party relaxed its age norms.
Raja, who remains the first Dalit General Secretary of a Left party, secured the position after protracted internal discussions. The Party Congress had earlier considered elevating Amarjeet Kaur, which would have made her the first woman chief of a Left party, or electing Binoy Vishwam, a comparatively younger face. Speculation about appointing a Deputy General Secretary was also considered, but no final decision was reached on that front.
Raja, 76, now faces a challenging term, having been criticised for failing to successfully rejuvenate the CPI during his previous leadership.
Sources within the party indicated that a significant section, led by the influential Kerala unit, opposed relaxing the retirement age of 75 for leaders. A meeting of the outgoing National Executive on Wednesday saw lengthy debates on the matter. Although leaders from Kerala and others insisted that the age bar should not be waived for anyone, the Executive ultimately decided in Raja’s favour. However, it specifically clarified that no other leader above 75 would be permitted to remain in the national leadership.
Leaders from Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, and Karnataka were also reported to have opposed Raja’s retention, while northern Indian states largely supported him.
Reportedly, during the debate, a two-term former Rajya Sabha MP, Raja, made an emotional appeal, citing his experience in managing relationships within the newly formed INDIA bloc and his long-standing ties with the constituent parties.
Raja first took over as General Secretary in July 2019, succeeding S Sudhakar Reddy, who relinquished his post mid-term due to ill health. He was formally re-elected at the Party Congress in Vijayawada in 2022.
Born to a landless agricultural worker couple in Vellore, Tamil Nadu, Raja holds BSc and BEd degrees and was mentored by veteran CPI figures like Indrajit Gupta and AB Bardhan. After entering politics during his college years, he was appointed CPI National Secretary in 1994, a role he held until his elevation. Since 1996, he has represented the party alongside Bardhan in crucial government formation talks and high-level political engagements.
Also read: Not told about INDIA meet, says CPI Gen Secy D Raja
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