M A Baby, the newly elected General Secretary of the CPM, has criticized ASHA workers in Kerala for failing to hold the central government accountable during their protests, while extending a warm reception to Union Minister and BJP MP Suresh Gopi. Baby emphasized that the ASHA scheme was launched by the Centre, which still bears the primary responsibility for addressing the workers’ demands. He pointed out that the Kerala government, under the Left, had increased ASHA honorariums from ₹1,000 to ₹7,000 and fulfilled nearly all their demands. Despite this, the central government has not taken adequate steps, and Baby lamented the protesters’ decision to ignore this while warmly receiving Gopi.
Baby also addressed the controversy surrounding Veena Vijayan, daughter of Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, calling it a politically motivated attack. According to him, Veena, an IT entrepreneur, had provided legitimate services to Cochin Minerals and Rutile Limited (CMRL), for which payments were made transparently via bank transactions and taxes were duly paid. Baby questioned whether any evidence existed to prove that CMRL received undue benefits through her connection with the government. He asserted that since Pinarayi couldn’t be directly targeted, attempts were being made to tarnish his image via his daughter — an approach he termed undemocratic and unethical.
Reflecting on his new role and political trajectory, Baby noted his long-standing commitment to the party since the 1970s. He expressed gratitude for the support and congratulations he received, particularly from respected literary figures like M K Sanu and T Padmanabhan, as well as Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin and actor Kamal Haasan. Baby also responded to Congress leader V D Satheesan’s congratulatory note, which he said carried a subtle jab at the CPM. Stressing the need for inter-party cooperation on development issues despite political rivalry, Baby also encouraged broader discussions around sensitive topics like the Waqf Bill. He pointed to BJP’s growing influence in Kerala, noting Suresh Gopi’s victory in a seat once held by Congress, as a sign of changing political tides.
