NEW DELHI :Left leader and CPM general secretary Sitaram Yechury died this afternoon. He was 72 years old and was undergoing treatment for pneumonia at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Delhi. The CPM leader was admitted to the emergency ward of AIIMS on August 19 and was later shifted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU).
AIIMS said in a statement that Mr Yechury died at 3.05 pm today. The family has donated his body to AIIMS for teaching and research purposes. His body will now remain at AIIMS for two days and then will be shifted to AKG Bhavan, the CPM headquarters, so that his fans and colleagues can pay tribute to him. Later the body will be shifted again to AIIMS.Mr Yechury is survived by his wife and senior journalist Seema Chishti, daughter Akhila and son Danish. His 34-year-old son Ashish Yechury died of Covid in 2021. A member of the CPM’s top decision-making body, the Politburo, for over three decades, Mr Yechury was a Rajya Sabha MP from 2005 to 2017.
An alumnus of Delhi’s St Stephen’s College and Jawaharlal Nehru University, Mr Yechury began his political career with the Students’ Federation of India and joined the CPIM in 1975. He was pursuing a doctorate in economics from JNU when the Indira Gandhi government imposed Emergency in 1975 and he was arrested along with several other leaders. His PhD remained incomplete.
After coming out of jail, Mr Yechury was elected president of the JNU Students’ Union thrice in a year. During this time he also met Prakash Karat, who became his lifelong companion. In 1992, he was elected a member of the Politburo. He was among the leaders who played a key role in drafting a common minimum programme for the United Front government. Mr Yechury also played a key role in forging the ruling coalition for the UPA government in 2004. The veteran leader had good relations with leaders of all parties, making him one of the key leaders who played a key role in forging the coalition. Recently when opposition parties came together under the India Bloc, he was one of the key leaders who was at the forefront.

The CPI(M) in a post on X said, “Our dear Comrade Sitaram Yechury, CPI(M) General Secretary, passed away at AIIMS today. Lal Salaam to Comrade Sitaram Yechury!” President Draupadi Murmu expressed grief over the demise of Sitaram Yechury, saying he had a distinct identity first as a student leader and then as a parliamentarian in national politics. He made friends by rising above party lines. Prime Minister Narendra Modi said saddened by the demise of Sitaram Yechury. He was a pioneer of the Left. He was known for his ability to connect across the political spectrum. He also made his mark as an effective parliamentarian.
Congress MP and Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi offered his condolences, calling him a “friend” and “protector of the idea of ​​India”. “Sitaram Yechury ji was a friend. He was the protector of the idea of ​​India. He had a deep understanding of our country. I will miss the long discussions we used to have. My heartfelt condolences to his family, friends and followers in this hour of grief.” Union Minister Nitin Gadkari said he was “deeply saddened” by the death of Sitaram Yechury. “His contribution to public life will always be remembered. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said he was saddened by the demise of Mr Yechury. In his long years in public life, he distinguished himself as a seasoned parliamentarian, known for his wisdom and expression.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee also offered her condolences. She said in a post on Instagram, “Saddened to learn that Shri Sitaram Yechury has passed away. I knew him as a seasoned parliamentarian and his demise will be a loss to national politics. I offer my condolences to his family, friends and colleagues.” Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav said Mr Yechury’s death was very sad. “May God give peace to his soul and strength to his family members to bear this loss,” he said in a post on Twitter.

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