IJThis refers to the article, “Challenges before Yechury” (April 29) by Hari Shankar Vyas. The article gives a telling analysis of the rough-and-tumble play within the Communist Party of India (Marxist)
(CPI-M) as its stalwart duo — Prakash Karat and Sitaram Yechury — is not on the same page regarding the party's alliance with the Congress ahead of the General Election due next year.
With former General Secretary Prakash Karat enjoying support from 10 out of 19 members in the newly-created Central Committee; and as many members standing by him in the 17-member Politburo, he is principally averse to any alliance with the Congress. However, Karat, despite his palpable dominance, has agreed to include some secular and
like-minded parties in the alliance and also to a seat adjustment with the grand old party in the CPI-M's interest.
Clearly, there are many challenges staring on the face of the newly elected General Secretary Sitaram Yechury — for him there is no Dalit support, and there is insignifacant representations from both the women and minority communities in the Politburo. Issues are raging across the country these days. In the final analysis, it squrely hinges uopn Yechury's political sagacity as to how he deals with the challenges to reclaim his party's sagging influence, State-wide and country-wide.