CPI(M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury, 72, is in a “critical” condition and on respiratory support at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in New Delhi, the Communist Party of India (Marxist) said on Tuesday. He is currently in the intensive care unit (ICU), receiving treatment for an acute respiratory tract infection.
Medical Condition
Yechury was admitted to AIIMS on August 19 to treat a pneumonia-like chest infection. Initially, the CPI(M) had stated on August 31 that Yechury was being treated for a respiratory issue by a team of specialists. However, his condition has worsened in recent days, and he is now on respiratory support. A multi-disciplinary team of doctors is closely monitoring him, and his situation remains critical.
Yechury’s Recent Activities
Despite his health challenges, Yechury has remained active in his political duties. On August 22, he released a 6-minute video on X (formerly Twitter) expressing his condolences after the passing of former West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadev Bhattacharya. He also posted messages of solidarity between the CPI(M), Congress, and National Conference ahead of the upcoming Jammu and Kashmir assembly elections. His last public message was on August 29, offering condolences on the death of his close friend Abdul Ghafoor Noorani.
Political Legacy
Sitaram Yechury has had a long and influential career in Indian politics, both within the CPI(M) and as a key figure in coalition-building efforts across parties. He played an instrumental role in drafting the common minimum programme for the United Front government in 1996, working closely with P Chidambaram. He was also a key architect in the formation of the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government in 2004. Yechury’s coalition-building legacy is seen as a continuation of the work of former CPI(M) general secretary Harkishan Singh Surjeet.
Yechury has a history of political activism dating back to the Emergency in 1975 when he was arrested while still a student at Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU). During his time at JNU, he was elected president of the JNU Students’ Union three times in 1977-78.
Read More : Bengaluru YouTuber issues open threat declaring himself a ‘big rowdy,’ arrested
