Age should not be a barrier in politics, says CPI(M) veteran G. Sudhakaran

Veteran CPI (M) leader G. Sudhakaran emphasizes age should not hinder political service, supports party's decisions for future leadership.

Veteran Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI (M)] leader G. Sudhakaran has said that age should not be a barrier in politics and that no one from the CPI(M) leadership had asked him to continue when he informed them in 2022 that his name should not be considered for the State committee of which he had been a member for several years. His decision came after the party set a retirement age of 75.

“When I expressed my willingness to step aside from the State committee and wrote to then CPI(M) State secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan and Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, no one told me to reconsider and continue. Age should not be a factor. It should be based on each person’s ability and willingness to serve. Exemptions are being given and I welcome it,” he told The Hindu.

On the question of who should be the next Chief Minister, if the Left Democratic Front (LDF) secures a majority in the next Assembly elections, the veteran communist said: “Currently, the CPI (M) has not set any age limit for parliamentary positions. If the LDF secures a majority again and the CPI (M) decides that Pinarayi Vijayan should continue as the Chief Minister, I will welcome that. However, there is no need to declare now that a particular person would hold the position after the next election.”

Mr. Sudhakaran expressed confidence that the ongoing CPI (M) State conference in Kollam would make decisions in the public interest. “The previous LDF government included both experienced members and newcomers. In the present government, except for the Chief Minister, all the other Cabinet members are serving as Ministers for the first time. Let the people and the party evaluate their performance- whether they were successful or if there were shortcomings,” he noted.

The two-time Minister said that it was important to assess things and move in the right direction. “The people’s will and opinions must be considered. Only by acting in accordance with the people’s interests can an election be won. I believe that the party will make decisions in the State conference based on this understanding,” Mr. Sudhakaran said.

He, however, declined to express an opinion on the second Pinarayi Vijayan government.

Mr. Sudhakaran also commented on the party’s changing cadre structure, noting that a vast majority of CPI(M) workers have 10 or fewer years of experience and many “lack ideological awareness.” He called for strengthening the party’s ideological foundation. “Senior members should also receive ideological re-education relevant to contemporary challenges. I expect the State conference to discuss ways to strengthen the party, overcome obstacles and move forward,” he added.