Bengal CPM’s support key factor for Sitaram Yechury’s elevation as CPM General Secretary

KOLKATA: Sitaram Yechury may have to thank the Bengal unit of CPM for its staunch support, which helped the polit bureau member fight off the challenge from S Ramachandran Pillai and replace Prakash Karat as party general secretary. Yechury’s stint as general secretary for the next three years was decided at the 21st party congress of the CPM in Visakhapatnam on Sunday.

Although Karat was expected to quit his post, there was a debate within the party over Yechury’s and Pillai’s candidature. Finally, the CPM “unanimously” elected Yechury and a 16-member polit bureau with four fresh faces.

It was well known within CPM circles that the party’s Bengal and Tripura units wanted Yechury to replace Karat.

“Yechuri knows Bengal well. He can also speak and understand Bengali. Naturally, Bengal will gain following Yechury’s election as the new party general secretary,” Nirupam Sen, the ailing CPM polit bureau member, who was dropped from the party’s apex body, told ET on Sunday after the announcement.

Sen and Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee have been dropped from the polit bureau this time. Both leaders had urged the central leadership to do so, citing “indisposition” as reason. “I am happy with Yechury's nomination as the general secretary. I personally urged the party to drop me from the polit bureau. I am indisposed and I want new faces to come to our leadership and I am happy with the change,” Sen said.

Expelled CPM leader Rezzak Mollah said, “Induction of Md Salim and Hannan Mollah is a good choice. I have been demanding for representation of Muslims and SC/STs in the party's leadership,” Mollah told ET.