CPI(M) Adds Eight New Members to Polit Bureau at 24th Party Congress in Madurai

Madurai: The Communist Party of India (Marxist) has added eight new members to its 18-member Polit Bureau during the 24th Party Congress held in Madurai. The newly included leaders are Vijoo Krishnan, Mariam Dhawale, U Vasuki, R Arun Kumar, Jitendra Chaudhury, K Balakrishnan, Amra Ram and Srideep Bhattacharya.
Vijoo Krishnan

Vijoo Krishnan, 51, is one of the most visible faces of India's contemporary farmers’ movements. As the General Secretary of the All India Kisan Sabha (AIKS), he played a pivotal role in significant agrarian movements, including the 2018 Maharashtra Kisan Long March and the Delhi farmers' protests. Vijoo Krishnan began his political journey with the Students' Federation of India (SFI) at Jawaharlal Nehru University in 1995 and later served as the SFI Delhi State Secretary. He holds a doctorate in agricultural economics and previously led the political science department at St. Joseph's College, Bengaluru, before dedicating himself fully to agrarian activism in 2008. Hailing from Karivellur, Kannur, Kerala, he is the son of Dr. P Krishnan and Shyamala. His wife, Samata, and daughter, Ria, remain pillars of support in his public life.
Mariam Dhawale

Mariam Dhawale, a prominent leader from Maharashtra, is the General Secretary of the All India Democratic Women’s Association (AIDWA). A relentless advocate for tribal women’s rights, she has dedicated decades to organizing and empowering marginalized communities, particularly in Thane district. Her political journey began with the Students’ Federation of India (SFI) in 1979, and in 1988, she made history as the first woman to serve as SFI’s Maharashtra State Secretary. Since joining AIDWA in 1994, Dhawale has been at the forefront of major campaigns addressing the unique struggles of tribal communities. She graduated from Wilson College in Mumbai. She is married to Ashok Dhawale, a fellow CPI(M) Politburo member.
U Vasuki

U Vasuki, the National Vice President of the All India Democratic Women's Association (AIDWA), is originally from Tamil Nadu. After completing her education, she became actively involved with the Communist Party of India (Marxist). A former bank employee, Vasuki resigned from her job in 2000 to dedicate herself fully to public life and political work. She is the daughter of two prominent CPI(M) leaders—R Umanath and Pappa Umanath—and has continued in the path of political commitment they exemplified.
R Arun Kumar

R Arun Kumar shares responsibility for handling the party’s foreign affairs at the CPI(M) headquarters, A.K.G. Bhavan in New Delhi. His public life began through student movements in the then undivided Andhra Pradesh. As State President and Secretary of the SFI, he was at the forefront of major student-led agitations that compelled government response, including protests against electricity tariff hikes in coordination with other political parties. He later served as the All India President of the SFI, marking his move to national politics. Arun Kumar is the son of CPI(M) leaders K Hemalata, President of the CITU, and Shyam Sundar, a Delhi-based party activist. His wife, Mamata, is a journalist with People’s Democracy, and the couple has a son, Arnav.
Jitendra Chaudhary

Jitendra Chaudhary, 66, is the Tripura State Secretary of the CPI(M) and currently serves as the Leader of the Opposition in the Tripura Legislative Assembly. He also heads the Adivasi Adhikar Rashtriya Manch, a national platform advocating for tribal rights. From 1993 to 2014, Chaudhary held key ministerial portfolios in the Tripura state government, including Forest, Industry, Commerce, and Sports. He later represented Tripura East in the Lok Sabha from 2014 to 2019.
K Balakrishnan

K. Balakrishnan, former Tamil Nadu State Secretary of the CPI(M), began his political journey through student activism in the 1970s—a commitment that led to his expulsion from Annamalai University. In 1972, he became the State Secretary of the SFI, and by 1982, he was inducted into the CPI(M) State Committee. Balakrishnan served as the Cuddalore District Secretary from 1989 and later took on the role of State President of the All India Kisan Sabha. In 2011, he was elected to the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly from Chidambaram, where he served as the CPI(M) Chief Whip.
Amra Ram

Amra Ram is the State Secretary of the CPI(M) in Rajasthan and a Member of Parliament from Sikar. From 2013 to 2017, he served as the National President of the All India Kisan Sabha (AIKS) and currently holds the position of Vice President of the organisation. In 2011, he was honoured with the Best MLA Award by the Rajasthan government. Amra Ram began his public life through the student movement. He played a crucial role in the farmers’ agitation that began in Sikar in 2017, emerging as a key leader in the struggle.
Srideep Bhattacharya

Srideep Bhattacharya is a CPI(M) leader from West Bengal, hailing from Howrah district. He graduated with distinction from Shibpur Engineering College. He entered public life through the Students' Federation of India (SFI) and is currently a member of the CPI(M) West Bengal State Secretariat. Soon after completing his education, he became a full-time activist of the party. He is also a key organiser of the People’s Science Movement in Bengal.