CPI(M) politburo member Prakash Karat on Tuesday said party general secretary Sitaram Yechury's death was a great loss for Left and secular forces and called for a "collective leadership". While addressing a commemorative meeting organised for Yechury in Agartala, Karat also discussed the vital role Yechury played in forming the INDIA bloc to challenge the BJP in the Lok Sabha polls. Yechury passed away on September 12 at the age of 72. He served as a member of the Rajya Sabha for two terms, from 2005 to 2017, and was chosen as the 'Best Parliamentarian' in 2017. Karat, who had served as the CPI(M) politburo secretary before Yechury, said, "He (Yechury) always placed importance on strengthening and broadening the party's support base. He also emphasised strengthening the unity of secular forces to defeat the BJP, RSS, and other communal forces. His death is a great loss not only for the party but also for the secular forces of the country." He mentioned that there is still a threat from the BJP, despite its reduced strength in the Lok Sabha. "The INDIA bloc should be strengthened further against the anti-people policies, undemocratic, fascist activities of the BJP," said Karat. Former chief minister and Tripura's only politburo member Manik Sarkar urged party leaders and members to win over people who oppose the Left and those who oppose the people's interests. Sarkar also expressed his condolences on Yechury's passing. He mentioned that Yechury maintained good relations with like-minded and secular political parties, continuing the legacy of the late Harkishan Singh Surjeet, a former CPI(M) general secretary. Sarkar headed the CPI(M)-led Left Front government in Tripura for four consecutive terms from 1998 to 2018 and was a member of the communist party's top policy-making body, the politburo. Terming Yechury as the party's "bright captain", CPI(M) secretary Jitendra Chaudhury said the leaders and workers should complete Yechury’s incomplete task. "His death is a significant loss to the Left and all other secular parties. He had the ability to collaborate with people regardless of their political affiliations," Chaudhury said. He also emphasised Yechury's pivotal role in establishing the INDIA bloc, which brought together around 28 Opposition political parties.
