From 16 years, national council was waiting for a new guard in the CPI, the Communist Party of India.

And now waiting time is over as S Sudhakar Reddy is placed on Saturday as new general secretary of CPI, replacing A B Bardhan who held the post since 1997.

Along with Reddy who was elected unopposed as national general secretary at the party’s conclave in Patna, other eight members has elected by national council here.

They have been elected as members of central secretariat of the party, a source of CPI said.

Belong to a social family, the Telanganite who born on March 25, 1942, lead as a freedom fighter life as like his father.

For twice, he was elected as Chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee national council on Labour to the Lok Sabha in 1998 and 2004.

Ranking the second leader from Andhra Pradesh, Reddy come in party behind the Chandra Rajeswara Rao who had been served as the CPI General Secretary for 25 years.

After passing a huge long period, Reddy has got chance to be a fighter leader to extend the level of the party’s pro-Telangana stand. And all eyes are set on him that is expected to becoming a long race horse of the Telangana separate state’s move.