Senior CPI leader Kanam Rajendran was elected new secretary of party's Kerala unit at the end of the five-day conference here today.
Election of 65-year-old Rajendran at the end of the five-day conference was a "unanimous" decision of newly constituted 89-member state council of the party, CPI leaders said.
Though senior leader and former minister K E Ismail's name was suggested to the post by some leaders in the state council, he withdrew from the race following intervention of the national leadership, party sources said.
Ismail's decision not to contest the post paved way for the election of Rajendran who began his political career in 1970s as a student leader in Kottayam district.
Briefing the media after delegates' session, Rajendran said he was "unanimously" elected as CPI state secretary after the Central leadership suggested his name for the post.
"I will lead the party as a unified force. My immediate priority is to further strengthen the party in the state," said Rajendran, who is also the state president of the AITUC, the trade union wing of the CPI.
He dismissed reports that the CPI's Central leadership intervened to avoid a possible showdown between him and Ismail for the state secretary's post.
Reports had said there was strong difference of opinion between Rajendran and Ismail, both national executive members, and Ismail will contest against Rajendran for the secretary's post.
Rajendran succeeded Pannian Ravindran, who was elevated to the post of secretary after the demise of C K Chandrappan in March 2012.
Ahead of the conference, Ravindran had announced that he was quitting the secretary's post.
