AMN / New Delhi
CPI-M has decided not to field party general secretary Sitaram Yechury, who retires on August 18, for the Upper House. The decision to stall Mr Yechury’s attempt for re-election to the Rajya Sabha from West Bengal was taken after hardliners especially from Kerala insisted that they “should not take help of Congress” to get the party general secretary re-elected.
“It was a deeply divided central committee that took the decision after a vote by raising of hands,” the source said even as a section of Bengal leaders wanted to field Mr Yechury to the Rajya Sabha.
“In fact, we do not want to field a candidate because we don’t have the numbers. We don’t want the support from the Congress as Kerala unit is against such a move,” a party Politburo member said.
The central committee of the CPI-M also took the decision as under norms so far, no CPI(M) leader can represent the party in the Upper House for more than two terms.
“Accepting the Congress support to send our party general secretary to the Rajya Sabha would be against and not in accordance with the political stand we have been adopting,” Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan also a member of party Politburo, told The Indian Express .
Mr Yechury’s exit from the Rajya Sabha would deprive the Left parties in particular and the opposition parties in general a vocal leader – who played a major role in ensuring effective floor coordination among the non-NDA parties and the Congress.
Polls will be held for six Rajya Sabhe seats from West Bengal. Out of the six, while four are held by Trinamool Congress, with enhanced strength, it can manage to pick up five. Congress with 44 MLAs can win one seat.
The CPI(M)-led Left Front has only 32 MLAs in the Assembly.
Recently, Congress leader Manas Bhunia quit the party and is set to contest the Rajya Sabha polls as Trinamool nominee.
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