After months of uncertainty, Yechury may get a second term as CPI(M) general secretary

File image of CPI(M) General Secretary Sitaram Yechury | PTI

CPI(M) political resolution will allow an understanding with the Congress, in tune with Yechury’s line, which had earlier been rejected by Central Committee.

Hyderabad: CPI(M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury seems poised to be elected for a second term in the ongoing Party Congress in Hyderabad Sunday after the party eventually ended up adopting his line, an issue that had threatened to actually split the organisation right down the middle.

The party had Friday adopted a political resolution, which allows an understanding with the Congress, and rules out only an alliance, in tune with Yechury’s line, which had earlier been rejected by the Central Committee in January this year.

His predecessor Prakash Karat has been opposing any kind of understanding with the Congress whatsoever, and it was his version of the resolution that was endorsed by the Central Committee, with 55 votes to 31.

Sources in the party said Friday’s events have “more or less paved the way for Yechury’s re-election unless the Kerala faction throws a surprise candidate”.

The Party Congress Sunday will elect a new politburo — the highest body of the CPI(M) – as well a new Central Committee. The CPI(M) is often criticised for a lack of representation of all sections in its politburo. The 16-member body has only two women and two Muslim members, and no representation from the Dalit community.

“We are aware of the issue. Certainly we are careful about the social composition of the organisation,” politburo member Brinda Karat said Saturday.

The party sources also said that some changes are expected in the politburo. Ashok Dhawale, the party’s face in Maharashtra, could be brought into the politburo. Dhawale was the brain behind the farmers’ march from Nashik to Mumbai, which brought to the fore farmers’ issues and forced the state government to react.

Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) president A.K. Padmanabhan may be removed from the politburo. For decades, CITU, CPI(M) trade union wing, has sent two representatives to this top body.

The other CITU member, Tapan Sen, is likely to continue in the politburo, sources added.