Former Tripura Chief Minister and CPI(M) politburo member Manik Sarkar has expressed deep sorrow over the death of Sitaram Yechury, describing it as a significant loss to the secular and democratic political landscape of India. Yechury, the 72-year-old CPI(M) general secretary, passed away at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences in New Delhi on Thursday afternoon due to a severe lung infection.
Sarkar, who served as Tripura’s chief minister from 1998 to 2018, remarked that Yechury’s passing is a grave blow to the Left and democratic movements in the country. He reflected on Yechury’s role in continuing the vital work of fostering relationships with like-minded secular political parties, a task initiated by former party chief Harkishan Singh Surjeet.
“Yechury carried forward the legacy of Surjeet, maintaining strong and positive relations with non-Left secular and democratic parties,” Sarkar noted, speaking to reporters in Agartala. “He performed his duties with dedication and efficiency until his health prevented him from doing so.”
Jitendra Chaudhury, the CPI(M) state secretary, emphasized Yechury’s significant contributions to the Left democratic movement in Tripura over the decades. “Yechury was instrumental in bringing Tripura’s issues to national attention, both inside and outside Parliament. His role in every election and key party events was crucial,” Chaudhury stated.
In honor of the veteran leader, the CPI(M) has announced that party flags will be flown at half-mast for the next seven days. Chaudhury also highlighted Yechury’s role in forming the INDIA bloc at the national level and his active campaigning in the recent Assembly elections in Tripura.
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