<p>Madurai: Former Kerala minister M A Baby appeared to be the frontrunner for the post of CPI(M) general secretary with the Politburo backing him, even as leaders from West Bengal backed All India Kisan Sabha (AIKS) president Ashok Dhawale.</p>.<p>According to sources, many leaders backed Baby at a meeting of the Politburo, the highest decision-making body of the CPI(M), on Saturday night.</p>.<p>However, leaders from West Bengal, including Nilotpal Basu, Tapan Sen, Ram Chandra Dome and Md Salim, put their weight behind Dhawale, the sources said.</p>.<p>Dhawale initially proposed Salim's name but Salim said he wanted to continue as the secretary for West Bengal, where the CPI(M) is working to regain foothold. The leaders from the state then proposed Dhawale's name.</p>.Efforts to counter BJP govt remain insufficient, more movements needed: CPI(M) organisational report.<p>The final decision on the general secretary will be taken after the new Central Committee and Politburo are decided on Sunday.</p>.<p>Many of Baby's supporters gathered at the venue of the ongoing party congress, held once every three years, in Sitaram Yechury Nagar here and raised slogans backing him.</p>.<p>Several top leaders of the Politburo are likely to step down as they have crossed the age of 75.</p>.<p>According to the sources, members said during the Politburo meeting that Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan should get another extension.</p>.<p>Vijayan, 79, was given an extension in the last party congress as well.</p>.<p>Brinda Karat (77), Subhashini Ali (77), Prakash Karat (77), Manik Sarkar (76), Suryakant Mishra (76) and G Ramakrishnan (75) are among the Politburo members who have crossed or reached the age limit of 75 set by the party.</p>.<p>The 24th party congress of the CPI(M) began on April 2 and will end on Sunday.</p>
<p>Madurai: Former Kerala minister M A Baby appeared to be the frontrunner for the post of CPI(M) general secretary with the Politburo backing him, even as leaders from West Bengal backed All India Kisan Sabha (AIKS) president Ashok Dhawale.</p>.<p>According to sources, many leaders backed Baby at a meeting of the Politburo, the highest decision-making body of the CPI(M), on Saturday night.</p>.<p>However, leaders from West Bengal, including Nilotpal Basu, Tapan Sen, Ram Chandra Dome and Md Salim, put their weight behind Dhawale, the sources said.</p>.<p>Dhawale initially proposed Salim's name but Salim said he wanted to continue as the secretary for West Bengal, where the CPI(M) is working to regain foothold. The leaders from the state then proposed Dhawale's name.</p>.Efforts to counter BJP govt remain insufficient, more movements needed: CPI(M) organisational report.<p>The final decision on the general secretary will be taken after the new Central Committee and Politburo are decided on Sunday.</p>.<p>Many of Baby's supporters gathered at the venue of the ongoing party congress, held once every three years, in Sitaram Yechury Nagar here and raised slogans backing him.</p>.<p>Several top leaders of the Politburo are likely to step down as they have crossed the age of 75.</p>.<p>According to the sources, members said during the Politburo meeting that Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan should get another extension.</p>.<p>Vijayan, 79, was given an extension in the last party congress as well.</p>.<p>Brinda Karat (77), Subhashini Ali (77), Prakash Karat (77), Manik Sarkar (76), Suryakant Mishra (76) and G Ramakrishnan (75) are among the Politburo members who have crossed or reached the age limit of 75 set by the party.</p>.<p>The 24th party congress of the CPI(M) began on April 2 and will end on Sunday.</p>