With Yechury being denied RS ticket, is CPM heading for a split

The proposal for a third term was moved by the West Bengal unit of the party.

The CPM has decided against sending its leader Sitaram Yechury to the Rajya Sabha for the third time. The highest decision making body of the CPM- central committee decided against nominating Yechury for a third consecutive term. Yechury's second term in the Rajya Sabha ends in August. Elections to the 6 RS seats from West Bengal including the one represented by Yechury will be held on August 8.

The committee which was divided over the issue took the decision after a vote by raising hands. The committee decided to follow the party's norm that no CPM leader can represent the party in the Rajya Sabja more than twice.

Apart from the party's norm, the Kerala unit of the CPM was opposed to the idea of seeking the Congress' help to get Yechury elected to the upper house of Parliament.

The proposal for a third term was moved by the West Bengal unit of the party. However this move was opposed by the units of the party in Kerala, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu. The central committee members also spoke with Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan who had opposed Yechury's third nomination to the RS in an interview.

OneIndia News