Prominent CPI(M) Leader Sitaram Yechury Passes Away at 72.

New Delhi:

Sitaram Yechury, the general secretary of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPI(M)), passed away on Thursday after a prolonged illness. He was 72 years old and had been receiving treatment at AIIMS, New Delhi, for an acute respiratory tract infection. Yechury was on respiratory support and his condition had been critical for several days.

AIIMS confirmed that Yechury’s body will be donated to the institution for medical research and teaching, in line with his wishes. Before the donation, the body will be kept at the CPI(M) headquarters from 11 am to 3 pm on Saturday for public viewing and to allow people to pay their respects.

A prominent opposition leader, Yechury was known for his staunch anti-BJP stance. He was a significant figure within the CPI(M) since 1984, serving on the central committee and the politburo for decades. His influence extended beyond the CPI(M), as he was a key advisor to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and played a pivotal role in forming the opposition INDIA alliance alongside JDU’s Nitish Kumar.

Yechury’s tenure in the Rajya Sabha ended in 2020, when the CPI(M)’s Kerala faction, led by Prakash Karat and chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan, chose not to renominate him, adhering to the party’s policy of limiting members to two terms. Despite this, he remained a significant figure in Indian politics.