New CPI(M) chief

April 21, 2015 01:27 am | Updated 01:34 am IST

As the fifth general secretary of the CPI(M), Sitaram Yechury faces the tough task of arresting the party’s decline and leading it to a path of growth (“ >Yechury is new CPI(M) chief ”, April 20). Ordinarily, the Left should be treated as a force in decline in politics, both internationally as well as domestically. But it is to the credit of the Indian communists that even when the ideology was shrinking in the West, pragmatic leaders like Harkishen Singh Surjeet ensured that the party had not just the ability to remain relevant, but also be a part of government. The Left’s problems, in being dogmatic, became clear in the way in which Somnath Chatterjee was treated for not toeing the party line on the nuclear issue.

The wheels of fortune have turned and with Sitaram Yechury now the new man, one is sure that his qualities as a political negotiator will prove to be valuable.

J.S. Acharya,

Hyderabad

The development heralds a dynamic change at a testing time for the CPI(M). With an erosion of its popularity in West Bengal, Kerala and a meagre presence in the western part of India, he will now have to rebuild the party by focussing on core areas which affect the poor. Since India is marching towards rapid economic progress, the CPI(M) should become a partner in the endeavour for an equitable distribution of natural wealth. The party must abandon moth-eaten ideals of an otiose socialism and a blind opposition to traditional values of those who belong to the majority religion.

Instead, it must introspect on the failure to enlist the support of oppressed and law-abiding citizens. It must also play a constructive role in eliminating corruption in public life and restoring probity in politics.

K. Chellappan,

Chennai

A credible face like Sitaram Yechury was the best choice for the post. But a bed of thorns awaits him. The popularity graph of the Left has been on a decline and the Left movement which had a strong presence in most States has eroded. Mr. Yechury will have to ponder over the reasons for a rejection of the Left’s ideology. In this age of globalisation and economic liberalisation, the Left’s pet terms such as ‘bourgeois’, ‘class conflict’ and ‘neoliberalism’ are anachronisms. His assertion of a unity of Left and democratic forces provides a ray of hope for the Left.

Manoj Parashar,

Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh

In the choice of Sitaram Yechury, one has a popular and good strategist, and one of the best theoreticians. Nobody will doubt his erudition, knowledge and sense of reality. A vocal parliamentarian who speaks without fear or favour, he understands the youth and their problems.

In a country where there is abundant poverty and backwardness, communism is the only solution before us and the CPI(M) should be able to reinvent itself by adjusting its ideology to contemporary needs. Capitalism has not exhausted its potentialities. The party should have its independent posture without succumbing to the fruits of power. One wishes him well.

Parthasarathy Sen,

New Delhi

0 / 0
Sign in to unlock member-only benefits!
  • Access 10 free stories every month
  • Save stories to read later
  • Access to comment on every story
  • Sign-up/manage your newsletter subscriptions with a single click
  • Get notified by email for early access to discounts & offers on our products
Sign in

Comments

Comments have to be in English, and in full sentences. They cannot be abusive or personal. Please abide by our community guidelines for posting your comments.

We have migrated to a new commenting platform. If you are already a registered user of The Hindu and logged in, you may continue to engage with our articles. If you do not have an account please register and login to post comments. Users can access their older comments by logging into their accounts on Vuukle.