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Sitaram Yechury Elected CPI-M's New General Secretary

Sitaram Yechury Elected CPI-M's New General Secretary
Communist Party of India (Marxist) leader Sitaram Yechury speaks to the media outside the Indian parliament in New Delhi, India, Tuesday, May 23, 2006. The Indian Parliament closed Tuesday after the summer session. (AP Photo/Ajit Kumar)
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Communist Party of India (Marxist) leader Sitaram Yechury speaks to the media outside the Indian parliament in New Delhi, India, Tuesday, May 23, 2006. The Indian Parliament closed Tuesday after the summer session. (AP Photo/Ajit Kumar)

The Communist Party of India-Marxist on Sunday elected Sitaram Yechury as its new general secretary, according to reports. Although official confirmation is still awaited, several senior journalists tweeted out congratulating the veteran Marxist leader.

Breaking news: Sitaram Yechury is the new general secretary of the CPI (M). @HeadlinesToday

— Rajdeep Sardesai (@sardesairajdeep) April 19, 2015

By electing Sitaram #Yechury, CPI(M) has given itself a lease of life. He is just the right man for the job at a difficult time for the Left

— T S Sudhir (@Iamtssudhir) April 19, 2015

Yechury was elected after the other frontrunner S Ramachandran Pillai withdrew from the race, according to the Indian Express, which quoted sources as saying that outgoing general secretary Prakash Karat advised Pillai to withdraw after Yechury’s supporters in the central committee insisted on a vote.

According to party sources, once the outgoing CC approves names to the incoming CC, the list will be places before the Congress, which will take a final decision. Sources clarified that newly elected CC will elect a new politburo and general secretary and not the outgoing CC or politburo.

Congratulations to Sitaram Yechury on taking over as CPM General Secretary. Only he can save this troubled party.

— vir sanghvi (@virsanghvi) April 19, 2015

The party has always elected its leader unanimously.

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