Thu Sep 12 18:57:53 UTC 2024: ## Veteran CPI(M) Leader Sitaram Yechury Passes Away at 72

**New Delhi, India:** Veteran Communist Party of India (Marxist) leader Sitaram Yechury passed away on Thursday, September 12, 2023, at the age of 72. The CPI(M) general secretary had been undergoing treatment for a severe respiratory infection at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in New Delhi.

Yechury was admitted to AIIMS on August 19 and had been in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) on oxygen support. His condition, initially reported as critical but stable, had worsened into a pneumonia-like condition.

Tributes poured in from across the political spectrum. Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh described Yechury as 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.”

TMC leader Abhishek Banerjee acknowledged their political differences but praised Yechury’s simplicity, profound understanding of public policy, and keen parliamentary insight.

Yechury’s political journey began as a student activist at Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), where he embraced Marxist principles and became a member of the Students’ Federation of India (SFI). He joined the CPI(M) in 1975 and rose through the ranks, gaining recognition as an articulate spokesperson for the party.

Elected as a member of the Rajya Sabha from 2005 to 2017, Yechury became a respected voice in Indian politics, known for his debating skills and advocacy for worker rights, land reforms, and a secular state.

In 2015, Yechury was elected as the general secretary of the CPI(M), navigating a challenging period marked by declining electoral fortunes. He advocated for broader coalitions with other left-wing and secular parties, a stance that sometimes led to internal disagreements.

Yechury was known for his humility, personal integrity, and his ability to engage in political discourse without acrimony. He faced personal tragedy in 2021 with the loss of his eldest son, Ashish, to Covid-19.

Sitaram Yechury’s passing marks the end of an era for the CPI(M) and leaves a void in Indian politics. He will be remembered for his unwavering commitment to his ideologies, his engaging personality, and his significant contribution to public life.

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