Yechury's re-election as general-secretary brings ray of hope for CPI(M)
CPI(M) leader Sitaram Yechury has been re-elected the party general secretary for a second term, bringing to an end its 22nd Congress in Hyderabad. This is the second win for Yechury in two days; yesterday, CPI(M) approved his 'minority view' of a possible strategic understanding with the Congress. The party elected a 95-member Central Committee, apart from six special invitees and two permanent invitees.
CPI(M)'s shrinking vote percentage led to an alternative political view
CPI(M)'s electoral performance has steadily been on a decline in Bihar, UP, Assam, Punjab and elsewhere the past few years. To save a fledgling party, Yechury came up with an alternative stand and advocated for alliances with the Congress, but his predecessor Prakash Karat disagreed. Incidentally, Yechury's 'minority view' was defeated 55:31 in the Central Committee (CC) meeting just three months ago in January.
Yechury's re-election has silenced hesitations, for now
During CPI(M)'s four-day Congress, Yechury addressed 700 delegates, saying that though fighting Congress party's "neo-liberal" policies was important, they should first defeat BJP, which has launched attacks on democratic values, and for that, remain open to alliance with any secular party. Despite the CC now adopting Yechury's political stance, discomfort of a section was obvious, reports said. But he was re-elected general secretary unanimously.
CPI(M)'s announcement makes its priorities clear
Yechury has cleared only the first of many battles
It is only one battle cleared for Yechury; many others lay ahead. The biggest challenge would be on-ground implementation of his political idea. For this, support of the CC will be crucial, which he seems to have for now. The CC will also need a homogenous hold on political and organizational matters. The party finally has to come up with a common program to unite the Left and all other democratic forces.
CC admits 19 new faces, and other changes
Among other changes at the 22nd Congress, S Ramachandran Pillai was retained in the Polit Bureau (PB) while AK Padmanabhan was dropped. Tapan Sen and Nilotpal Basu have been included. PK Gurudasan was dropped from the CC, while MV Govindan, K Radhakrishnan, Rabin Deb, Abhas Choudhary, Sujan Chakravarthy and Amigo Patra were named in the CC. VS Achuthanandan will continue as special invitee.
