Fresh faces in line for PB vacancies as CPM prepares for top brass rejig

With Sitaram Yechury's passing and age criteria, 8 positions will be vacant in the politburo

- ANIL S @T'Puram

GEARING up for its 24th Party Congress next week, the CPM is preparing for a major churning of its top brass. In a hitherto unprecedented scenario, half of the politburo (PB) is set to give way to fresh faces.

Going by the age criteria, and with a position left vacant by the demise of general secretary Sitaram Yechury, there will be eight vacancies in the PB. In the 17-member PB, seven leaders have crossed the upper age limit of 75. This includes PB coordinator Prakash Karat, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, former Tripura Chief Minister Manik Sarkar, women leaders Brinda Karat and Subhashini Ali, West Bengal leader Surjya Kanta Mishra, and ex-TN secretary G Ramakrishnan.

Of these, Pinarayi is expected to get an exemption. At the recently concluded central committee meet, there were demands that a few seniors be given relaxation, considering the country's political scenario. Women leaders are of the view that Brinda, being a known name, should be retained.