Why was the CCP party chairmanship abolished in 1982?

The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) abolished the office of party chairman in 1982 as part of a deliberate effort to prevent any single leader from rising to a position of absolute authority above the party, as Mao Zedong had done.1

Prior to this change, the chairmanship was a unique position within ruling communist parties that held significant power. By redefining the leadership structure, the party aimed to move toward a more institutionalized system where the power of an office is determined by its constitutional role rather than the personality of the incumbent. Following the abolition of the chairmanship, the role of the general secretary became the party's highest-ranking position.12