It is going to be an uphill task for CPI(M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury to secure a second term after the Central Committee’s decision in Kolkata to adopt the majority draft political resolution he had opposed.
The draft bars any “understanding” or “alliance” with the Congress and was backed by the Kerala faction within the party led by former general secretary Prakash Karat. The majority resolution prevailed with a vote of 55-31.
For now, the Polit Bureau (PB) has refused to accept Mr. Yechury’s offer to resign, saying it would be disastrous for the party’s unity. He was told to complete his term, of which only three months are remaining. As per the party constitution, one can be general secretary for three terms with each term lasting three years.
Battle to next level
According to sources close to him, he wants to take the battle now to the party’s triennial Congress scheduled for April where the final call on the political line will be taken. “The political resolution cleared by the Central Committee will win with a bigger margin in the Party Congress.
The call to give Sitaram Yechury a second term will be taken up at that time. If the minority submits to the majority, there will be no problem. If not it will be difficult for him to lead the party, especially since he does not sincerely believe in its political line,” a PB member said.
There are 700 delegates in the Party Congress. They are elected from States based on the number of members in a State and strength of the movement.
With 175 each, West Bengal and Kerala have an equal number of delegates in the Party Congress. Tripura, Tamil Nadu, Andhra and Telegana (both together) send close to 60 members each.
Delegates from Kerala, Tripura, Bihar, Andhra, Telengana backed Mr. Karat’s line, while the majority of delegates from West Bengal barring three, Maharashtra, a few from Punjab, half of delegates from Tamil Nadu, and Uttarakhand backed Mr. Yechury.
Questions are being asked whether by taking a position not to back Opposition unity, the party is making it easy for the BJP. “Is the Congress fighting the BJP? In the recent Gujarat Assembly polls, they pursued soft Hindutva. They may be fighting the BJP electorally but they are pursuing the same neo-liberal policies,” PB member S. Ramachandran Pillai said. He insisted that allying with the Congress may give temporary electoral gains but would weaken the Left movement in the long-term.
Mr. Yechury’s elevation to the General Secretary’s position in 2015 was bitterly fought. In the 21st Conference in Visakhapatnam he was unanimously elected only after leaders from West Bengal sought a secret ballot. His contender, S. Ramachandran Pillai conceded to avoid embarrassment to the party.
