An affable leader with cross-party political connections, Sitaram Yechury was among the most prominent Left leaders in the country, known as much for his sharp and knowledgeable parliamentary interventions as for the role in giving shape to pragmatic alliances to forge his party’s political objectives.
Evidently the most popular among CPI-M leaders, Yechury had a clout in national politics which continued despite the receding fortunes of his own party.
Yechury joined the Communist Party of India (Marxist) in 1975 and rose in the party ranks with his skills, knowledge and articulation. He was among the leaders arrested during the Emergency.
Born in Chennai on August 12, 1952, Yechury did his schooling in Hyderabad and later moved to Delhi for higher studies. He studied at St Stephen’s College of Delhi University and joined JNU for his post-graduation. A brilliant student, he secured a first class in both his undergraduate and post-graduate degrees in economics.
Yechury began his political innings in 1974 as a member of the Students’ Federation of India (SFI). He was thrice elected as President of the JNU Students Union in a span of two years. Yechury was SFI president from 1984 to 1986 and played an important role in expanding the reach of the student organisation across states.
Elected as CPI(M) general secretary in 2015, Sitaram Yechury was the party’s topmost leader, a well-known Marxist ideologue apart from being a key leader of the Left movement.
With India seeing significant changes in its political landscape from the eighties, Yechury played an important role in formulating CPI-M’s political positions.
A member of Rajya Sabha for two terms from 2005 to 2017, he was an effective parliamentarian whose speeches and interventions were eagerly watched. A recipient of the Best Parliamentarian award in 2017, Yechury’s dexterity with words, profoundness of arguments and quick wit earned respect from political opponents.
Late BJP leader Arun Jaitey, who was his contemporary, had said that Yechury raised the level of debate in Rajya Sabha which also encouraged others to measure up to the same standard.
A polyglot, Yechury was elected to the CPI-M Central Committee in 1985 and continued in the role. He was elected to the Central Secretariat in 1989 and to the Politburo in 1992.
Yechury was the Editor of CPI-M’s weekly paper, People’s Democracy, for over two decades. He was also a prolific writer. As head of the International Department of the CPI-M Central Committee, he strengthened relations with socialist countries.
A leader with a sense of humour, amiable temperament and a ready smile, Yechury had friends across the political spectrum and was widely respected for his political integrity and commitment.
The Left Front along with socialist parties formed the United Front governments following a fractured verdict in the 1996 Lok Sabha polls and Yechury worked on a common minimum programme for the new government.
Along with his fellow traveller Prakash Karat, Yechury had opposed a proposal to make then West Bengal Chief Minister Jyoti Basu the Prime Minister. Basu was to later describe it as a ‘historic blunder.
In 2004, CPI-M recorded its best performance in the Lok Sabha polls, winning 43 seats and Yechury played a key part in the Left parties extending their support to the Congress-led United Progressive alliance (UPA) government.
While defending the Left parties’ decision to oppose the India-US nuclear deal during the first UPA government, Yechury later said that they could not convert it into a people’s issue and should have withdrawn support on an issue that resonated more with the people such as price rise.
Ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, Yechury had advocated the need to keep the possibility of the understanding with Congress open but his proposal did not find support apparently of the group led by Karat and the party’s central committee rejected the proposal.
In his political journey, Yechury was influenced by leaders such as P Sundaraiah, M Basavapunnaiah and EMS Namboodiripad. Seen as a promising talent, he was also mentored by Harkishan Singh Surjeet, who had wide cross-party connections.
Political leaders paid glowing tributes to Yechury following his demise with Congress leader Rahul Gandhi describing him a friend.
“Sitaram Yechuryji was a friend. A protector of the Idea of India with a deep understanding of our country. I will miss the long discussions we used to have. My sincere condolences to his family, friends, and followers in this hour of grief,” Rahul Gandhi said in a post on X.
Expressing her sadness at the passing away of Sitaram Yechuryji, former Congress president Sonia Gandhi said they had worked closely together during 2004-08 to begin with and the friendship that had been established then continued till his very end.
She said Yechury played a pivotal role in UPA-1 and more recently contributed enormously to the emergence of the INDIA group in the run up to the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
Sonia Gandhi also said that Yechury was uncompromising in his commitment to the values of the country’s Constitution, was fierce in his determination to protect India’s diversity and was a powerful champion of secularism.
“He was, of course, a life-long communist but that faith was anchored in democratic values,” she said.
Congress leader Jairam Ramesh said Yechury was a very fine human being, a multilingual bibliophile, an unrepentant Marxist with a pragmatic streak, a pillar of the CPM, and a superb Parliamentarian with a wonderful wit and sense of humour.
“Our association stretched over three decades, and we collaborated closely at different occasions. He had friends across the political spectrum and was admired for the strength of his convictions and for his most engaging personality. Salaam Tovarish. You have left us much too early but you enriched public life immeasurably and will not be forgotten,” Ramesh said in a post on X .
The CPI-M said the untimely demise of Yechury at this crucial juncture in the national politics is a big blow for the party and “a grievous loss for the Left, democratic and secular forces”. (ANI)
