Sitaram Yechury, the General Secretary of the Communist Party of India (Marxist), is currently battling a serious health crisis. He is being treated at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Delhi for a severe lung infection. According to an official statement from the CPI, Yechury is on respiratory support, and his condition is being closely monitored by a multidisciplinary team of doctors. His condition has been described as critical.
Yechury, 72, was admitted to AIIMS on August 19th for treatment of a pneumonia-like chest infection. While the exact nature of his ailment has not been disclosed by the hospital, it is understood that he is facing significant respiratory complications. Prior to this, he had undergone cataract surgery.
Yechury’s career in politics is deeply entwined with the Communist Party of India (Marxist). He joined the party in 1975, a year after becoming a member of the Students’ Federation of India (SFI). During his time as a student at Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), he was arrested during the Emergency period. He also served as the president of the JNU Students’ Union three times between 1977 and 1988. Yechury, alongside Prakash Karat, is recognized for playing a key role in strengthening the leftist presence at JNU.
The veteran leader is highly respected for his commitment to coalition-building, a legacy he inherited from former general secretary Harkishan Singh Surjeet. His role in Indian politics is marked by significant contributions, including co-drafting the common minimum programme for the United Front government in 1996 with P. Chidambaram. He was also instrumental in forming the United Progressive Alliance government in 2004.
In recent times, Yechury has been a vocal critic of the current Union government. He recently expressed concern about the government’s decision to induct 45 lateral entry officers across 24 ministries, alleging that this move is an attempt to infiltrate RSS personnel to further its agenda and subvert the constitutional scheme of India.
Yechury’s health situation is a cause for concern among political circles and the general public. His contributions to Indian politics are widely recognized, and his recovery is being eagerly awaited.
