Mumtaz Alam,
New Delhi, July 29: Sitaram Yechury is one of the very few members who have spoken strongly and impressively from the Opposition benches in the Rajya Sabha, the Upper House of Indian Parliament, for over one decade. But when BJP is sending its two strong speakers – Smriti Irani and Amit Shah – to the House, Yechury’s party CPI-M has reportedly decided not to resend him, and it will be a big mistake that the communist party is going to commit.
Rajya Sabha is not a place just to count heads when required. It is the national platform to put across your views powerfully and to take on your opponents.
According to media reports, the CPI-M’s Central Committee has decided that party General Secretary and two-time Member of Rajya Sabha Sitaram Yechury will not be fielded again as a candidate from West Bengal for three reasons: The party does not have required strength and does not hope Congress will support it; The Kerala unit of CPI-M has opposed third term to Yechury; And party’s rule says its leaders cannot have more than two terms in Rajya Sabha.
First reason is weak as the Congress is believed to have promised support to Yechury’s candidature from West Bengal. Media reports say that Congress President Sonia Gandhi is herself in favour of Yechury’s presence in Rajya Sabha. In the state assembly, the Left Front has 32 MLAs, including 26 of CPI-M and Congress has 44 MLAs – the total strength is enough for Yechury to win.
Second reason can be explained only by the Kerala unit of CPI-M as to why it has opposed third term to Yechury.
And as for the third reason, in today’s extraordinary situation of the country when Opposition is being wiped out from across the country, any such norm could and should be changed. And after Nitish Kumar switching over to BJP-led NDA to form new government in Bihar, the Opposition will be further weak in Rajya Sabha.
Last thing, if CPI-M has found someone stronger and impressive speaker than Yechury and wants to send him or her to the Rajya Sabha in place of Yechury, then it can go ahead.
The terms of six Rajya Sabha members from West Bengal including Yechury will end on August 18 and the Election Commission of India will conduct polls for these seats besides four Rajya Sabha seats from Gujarat on 8th August. Irani and Shah have already filed their nominations from Gujarat.
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