THIRUVANANTHAPRUAM: By succeeding to get both V. S. Achuthanandan and Pinarayi Vijayan on board for the crucial forthcoming Assembly elections, CPM general secretary Sitaram Yechury has clinched a major victory after taking over the reins of the party at Vishakapatnam Party Congress last year.
Yechury had right from the beginning backed Achuthanandan’s candidature despite opposition from a dominant section of the state leadership and reservations expressed by a couple of politburo members including former general secretary Prakash Karat and S Ramachandran Pillai. The support from politburo members from outside the state particularly Bengal, Tripura also helped in sorting out the issue amicably.
For Yechury it was a do-or-die battle considering the party’s high stakes in the coming elections. After the debacle in Lok Sabha elections and the rout in West Bengal, the CPM under his leadership has now been trying hard to revive the party organisationally and in electoral terms especially in its strong states.
With the RSS-BJP sharpening its attack on the Left particularly CPM and even resorting to fascist forms of assault, none other than Yechury knows how crucial are the forthcoming Assembly polls in five states particularly in West Bengal and Kerala.
Many believe while the broader understanding reached between all democratic parties in West Bengal is expected to put up a huge challenge to the ruling Trinamool Congress besides boosting the morale of the cadre, a victory in Kerala is a much needed to give a befitting reply to the Modi government's communal and neo liberal policies.
The CPM general secretary has felt the pulse of party cadre as well as a people of the state. At 93, V S Achuthanandan continues to be the most popular politician across all political parties, something even which his political adversaries accept. His presence in the electoral battle, many in the Left believe is vital for the LDF. Even allies like CPI have time and again spoken about Achuthanandan being the face of the LDF campaign.
While the first hurdle has been successfully cleared by Yechury, his next big challenge lies ahead after the polls should the LDF clinch a big victory. Though deciding the chief minister will be a contentious issue, those close to Yechury say that even that would be resolved amicably without giving any chance to party adversaries to rejoice. Those banking on such infighting in the party will be disappointed at the end of the day, they say.
