MA Baby has become the second Malayali leader to be elected the general secretary of the CPI(M) after EMS Namboodiripad. However, his recent interview with a news channel once again made it clear that his new status hasn't changed his long-standing distance from the Christian community and its believers. His statements gave the impression that this detachment continues to define his public life.

Speaking the day after his appointment, Baby commented that the recent protests, the bishops' stance, and the strike by ASHA workers all indicate that someone is preparing the ground for another liberation struggle in Kerala. Many interpreted this as a reflection of his inherent anti-Christian mindset.

Born into a Catholic family, Baby was once actively involved in church life alongside his mother. However, under the influence of his father, he eventually embraced atheism and adopted strong anti-religious views — a transformation well-known to Malayalis. Although he began his social journey in the altar boys' group of a church in Kundara, he later gravitated toward Marxist ideology through SFI and active party work.

Many in the Christian community still remember his decisions as the Minister of Education with a sense of unease. Protests led by then Archbishop Mar Joseph Powathil of the Changanassery Archdiocese managed to stall several of Baby's anti-Christian policies, yet a sense of hostility lingered in his approach and stance. It was during this period that many accused him of attempting to become the next "Mundassery."

Further controversy surrounded his sarcastic remark, "Diocese – give a little money; Archdiocese – give a lot of money." His soft stance on Islamic extremists involved in the incident where Professor Joseph's hand was severed, along with repeated derogatory remarks about the professor, alienated him from many Christian believers. Baby even went so far as to say that Joseph received the punishment he deserved and that he was "the biggest fool in the world."

His Facebook post claiming that Marxist ideology aligns best with Quranic ideas sparked criticism, even from within his party. One of the most contentious lessons in the social science textbooks issued during his tenure was titled "Life Without Religion." This lesson was widely perceived as an attempt to instil atheism and rationalism in schoolchildren. Due to the intense backlash, it was later withdrawn.

True secularism in India must be based on coexistence — not on hatred toward religious believers. The question now being asked in Kerala is whether, under MA Baby's leadership, the CPI(M) will finally steer toward genuine secularism.