India, April 8 -- The change of guard in the CPM, announced on Sunday, comes at a critical juncture for the party and the larger politics it represents. The leadership question had assumed urgency after the passing of Sitaram Yechury - general secretary of the party at the time - last year. Former general secretary Prakash Karat assumed the mantle in the interim, but given the age criterion for Politburo membership - CPM's decision-making body - he, along with other senior leaders (Brinda Karat, and Manik Sarkar, among others), had already been counted out of the leadership search. On Sunday, former Kerala minister and long-time Politburo member, MA Baby was named as the general secretary. Eight new members joined the Politburo as some senior leaders stepped down and joined the party's Central Committee as special invitees. For an ideology-driven party, such transitions are also about ensuring continuity. Prakash Karat's statement that the transition is not a "generational shift" needs to be seen against this backdrop....