Sitaram Yechury, General Secretary of the Communist Party of India (Marxist), passed away on Thursday at the age of 72. He had been undergoing treatment at AIIMS, Delhi, for a pneumonia-like chest infection since August 19.
Yechury had been battling an acute respiratory tract infection and was on respiratory support in recent days. A multidisciplinary team of doctors had been attending to him, according to a CPI-M statement, which noted that his condition was “critical but stable” earlier in the week.
A Decades-Long Political Career
Yechury took over as the CPI-M General Secretary in 2015, succeeding Prakash Karat. He had been a member of the party’s Politburo, its highest decision-making body, for over three decades.
In addition to his role within the CPI-M, Yechury served as a member of the Rajya Sabha from 2005 to 2017. Recently, he had undergone cataract surgery, according to reports.
Tributes Pour In for Yechury
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi expressed his grief, calling Yechury a friend and “a protector of the Idea of India.” Gandhi added, “I will miss the long discussions we used to have. My sincere condolences to his family, friends, and followers.”
The Students’ Federation of India (SFI), CPI-M’s student wing, also mourned his passing, saying, “ADIEUCOMRADE Sitaram Yechury… the SFI dips its banner in honour of our beloved comrade.”
Yechury’s contributions to India’s Left movement and his deep understanding of the nation’s political landscape will be remembered as his legacy.
