Sitaram Yechury’s arrival to change equations

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The election of Sitaram Yechury as general secretary of the party is likely to change the equations in the state unit of the CPM.

This was evident from the developments that took place at Visakahapatnam on Sunday. Opposition Leader V.S. Achuthanandan who had left the venue of the party congress saying he wanted to go to Chennai, returned soon after it was clear that Yechury would be elected as general secretary.

The veteran leader had also publicly congratulated Yechury in advance on Saturday triggering criticism from a section of leaders including S. Ramachandran Pillai.

But more than symbolism, these developments point to the changes that the state CPM is likely to witness in the coming days with Achuthanandan coming back in centre stage.

For years, the party affairs in Kerala had been handled exclusively by Prakash Karat and Pillai. But with Yechury taking over as the general secretary, he would now have a direct control over the state unit’s functioning.

For Yechury, the exit of Pinarayi Vijayan as state secretary has also come as a positive development. The incumbent secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan enjoys good rapport with the new general secretary and that would help the central and state leadership to work in a coordinated manner.

Though Achuthanandan is now just a special invitee to CC, his closeness to Yechury will force the state leadership to take the veteran leader along with all its major activities.

Political observers say the Kerala unit of the party which was under the full control of Pinarayi Vijayan with the backing of Karat and Pillai, is expected to witness winds of change.

One of the major allegations against Pinarayi led leadership was that he had scuttled inner party democracy silencing all critics, suspending or expelling them from the party.

But Yechury’s arrival holds out a hope to people who were ousted from the party without any valid reason and purely on the basis of factionalism.

The six member politburo commission which has been entrusted with the task sorting out the internal problems of Kerala unit, will now be headed by Yechury and that brings much relief to Achuthanandan.

Though the Karat led commission had swept all controversial issues under the carpet and even rendered the panel completely defunct, under Yechury it is likely to take very realistic approach on the internal problems.

The voice of minority which used to be scuttled in the past raising all kinds of allegations, is likely to be heard now. But on the whole Yechury will have to move forward taking every one on board and his task is clearly cut out.