Marxist stalwart and CPI-M veteran Sitaram Yechury dies at 72

Yechury was receiving treatment in the intensive care unit at AIIMS, Delhi, for an acute respiratory tract infection. In recent days, he had been on respiratory support, under the care of a multidisciplinary team of doctors.

"It is with profound grief that we announce the passing away of CPIM General Secretary, our beloved Comrade Sitaram Yechury, at 3.03 pm today, 12th September, at the AIIMS, New Delhi. He was suffering from a respiratory tract infection which developed complications," CPI-M posted on its X handle.

Born on August 12, 1952, in Chennai, Yechury was a key figure in Indian politics, known for his strategic acumen in coalition politics and his steadfast commitment to Marxist principles.

Yechury took over as the CPI(M) General Secretary from Prakash Karat in 2015.

Political Career

His political career began in 1974 when he joined the Students' Federation of India (SFI), the student wing of CPI-M. He quickly rose through the ranks, serving as President of the  Jawaharlal Nehru University  ( JNU) Students' Union three times and later becoming the All-India President of the SFI. He was also arrested during the Emergency.

Yechury went to school in Hyderabad at the All Saints High School till his tenth standard. He later joined Presidents Estate School, New Delhi and achieved the All-India first rank in the Central Board of Secondary Education Higher Secondary Examination. He studied B.A. (Hons.) in Economics at St. Stephen's College, Delhi and then did his M.A. in Economics, from Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), achieving first class in both. 

Sitaram Yechury during a visit to the campus of his alma mater JNU. He was an M.A. in Economics from Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU). (Photo courtesy: Official FB)

In 1984, Yechury was elected to the CPI(M)'s Central Committee and became a permanent invitee. By 1992, he had ascended to the Politburo, a position he held for over 30 years.

From 2005 to 2017, Yechury served as a Rajya Sabha Member from West Bengal. He was elected General Secretary of CPI(M) in 2015, a position he was re-elected to in 2018 and 2022.

He learned political strategy under the guidance of the late Harkishan Singh Surjeet, who played a key role in coalition governance during the National Front government of V. P. Singh and the United Front government of 1996-97, both of which were supported by the CPI(M) from outside.

Yechury further honed his political skills when the Left parties supported the first UPA government, often influencing Congress-led policy decisions.

He played a pivotal role in discussions with the government over the Indo-US nuclear deal, which eventually led the Left parties to withdraw support for the UPA-I government due to Karat’s firm stance.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi condoled the Marxist veteran's demise, decsribng him as the 'Leading light of the Left'. Modi said Yechuri set the mark as an effective Parliamentarian.

Sitaram Yechury's eldest son Ashish Yechury died of COVID-19 in Delhi in April 2021. 

Yechury was married to journalist Seema Chisti, who is one of the editors of The Wire, and formerly the Delhi editor of BBC Hindi Service. He was previously married to Indrani Mazumdar and has a daughter too from his first marriage.