Citing age as a factor, CPI general secretary AB Bardhan on Sunday expressed his desire to step down in favour of younger generation, which the party in general appeared to be downplaying the suggestion.
Claiming that for the first time he felt constraint because of his age, the 81-year-old leader said, there was an emerging young turks in his party and they should take a decision at party congress to be held next March in Hyderabad.
?Our party congress is going to be held in Hyderabad. I will appeal there, but I don?t think they will allow me to go,? Bardhan said in an interview to a news channel, while referring to his desire to retire from the top post.
The veteran leader, who took over the reins of the CPI in 1996 from Indrajit Gupta, said age is overtaking him. He also spoke about the need for a change in the leadership, while noting that for any party to move forward, it has to move with the times and take into consideration the increasing age.
?You should understand that this aged man cannot always be the leader. Young generation is emerging?, he said. and pointed out that all the secretaries, including D Raja, Sudhakar Reddy and Gurudas Dasgupta, in his party are younger than him.
?We will have to think about leadership change. Change and continuity in leadership should be there,? he added.
However, the CPI sought to play down Bardhan?s talk of retirement with its national secretary D Raja saying, ?This was not an issue before the party. ?It is for the whole party to consider and take a decision on such a thing,? he said.
