Fri Sep 13 10:47:21 UTC 2024: ## Veteran CPI-M Leader Sitaram Yechury Passes Away, Leaving a Void in Democratic Movement

**Agartala, India** – Former CPI-M General Secretary Sitaram Yechury, known for his strong advocacy for secularism and democratic values, passed away on Thursday in New Delhi after battling a severe respiratory infection. His death has been mourned by leaders across the political spectrum, with many highlighting his key role in strengthening the democratic movement against communal forces.

Yechury, who served as CPI-M general secretary for two terms, was a close confidante of late party stalwart Harkishan Singh Surjeet. Tripura’s former Chief Minister and lone CPI-M Politburo member, Manik Sarkar, stated that Surjeet had guided Yechury to cultivate close and effective relations with secular and like-minded parties. This strategy, according to Sarkar, aimed at fortifying the democratic movement against communal forces.

Yechury’s contributions extended beyond his party affiliation. He was actively involved in forging alliances with non-Left secular and democratic parties, fostering a sense of unity in the face of rising communalism. His death, according to Sarkar, has created a vacuum in both the Left movement and the broader secular and democratic political landscape.

CPI-M state secretary Jitendra Chaudhury emphasized Yechury’s pivotal role in the Left democratic movement in Tripura, particularly in the formation of the INDIA bloc alliance at the national level. Chaudhury highlighted Yechury’s unwavering advocacy for Tripura’s concerns both within and outside Parliament.

Born in Chennai, Yechury was a graduate of Delhi’s prestigious St. Stephen’s College and Jawaharlal Nehru University. He is survived by his wife, Seema Chishti, and their two children, Akhila and Danish. His elder son, Ashish Yechury, tragically passed away due to COVID-19 in 2021.

Read More