This refers to the editorial, “Many shades in the Red” (October 29). At present, there seems to be a tug-of-war in the Communist Party of India (Marxist) between senior leaders Prakash Karat and Sitaram Yechury. According to media reports, Mr Yechury has placed before the party's central committee a report that holds Mr Karat responsible for the party's worst slide in recent years.
Regardless of the politics that Mr Yechury may be playing, we all know that under Mr Karat's leadership, the CPI(M) has steadily been sliding, losing both in Kerala and West Bengal. In fact, the loss in West Bengal has been so grave that the party might not be able to regain its ground in the near future. In fact, the Bharatiya Janata Party could occupy the political space vacant there. At a time when Marxism is as good as dead, one wonders if the Yechury-Karat brand of leftist politics will be able to survive.