Sitaram Yechury, the General Secretary of the Communist Party of India (Marxist), passed away on Thursday at the age of 72. He was a prominent Left leader known for his sharp political acumen, cross-party connections, and ability to forge pragmatic alliances. Yechury’s linguistic skills and humor were also legendary, once earning him a playful warning from Jyoti Basu.
Sitaram Yechury, a prominent figure in Indian politics and a veteran leader of the Communist Party of India (Marxist), passed away on Thursday, September 12, at AIIMS Delhi. Yechury, known for his intellectual contributions and passionate advocacy for social justice, was admitted to the hospital in August for a respiratory infection and had been in critical condition for several days. Politicians from across the spectrum have expressed their condolences, remembering him for his unwavering commitment to his ideology and his role as a bridge-builder in Indian politics.
The Begusarai Lok Sabha constituency in Bihar has been a stronghold of the Communist Party of India (CPI) for decades, but the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has made significant inroads in recent years. The upcoming 2024 Lok Sabha elections promise to be a close contest between the CPI and the BJP, with the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) also in the fray. The constituency has a complex caste composition, with the Bhumihar community holding sway traditionally, but backward castes and extremely backward classes accounting for a significant proportion of voters. The sitting BJP MP, Giriraj Singh, is a controversial figure who has faced criticism for his polarizing statements. However, he remains a popular figure among some voters, who see him as a staunch supporter of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The CPI candidate, Awadhesh Kumar Rai, is a former three-time CPI MLA and is seen as a strong challenger to Singh. The outcome of the Begusarai Lok Sabha election will be closely watched as it will have implications for the political landscape of Bihar and the national level.
