‘Loss For National Politics’: Leaders Across Party Lines Pay Tributes To Communist Icon Sitaram Yechury

Leaders across the political spectrum are mourning the death of veteran parliamentarian Sitaram Yechury who passed away on Thursday aged 72 at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in New Delhi on Thursday following prolonged illness.

Yechury had been in a critical condition for the last few days and was on respiratory support.

The CPI(M) had said in a statement on Tuesday that the 72-year-old leader was being treated for an acute respiratory tract infection at the ICU in AIIMS, Delhi.

Leaders Across Party Lines Pay Tributes

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi in a post on social media said losing Yechury was akin to losing a friend. “Sitaram Yechury ji was a friend. A protector of the Idea of India with a deep understanding of our country. I will miss the long discussions we used to have. My sincere condolences to his family, friends, and followers in this hour of grief,” Gandhi said on X.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh took to X and wrote, “Pained by the passing away of CPI(M) General Secretary and former Rajya Sabha MP Shri Sitaram Yechuri. In his long years in public life, he distinguished himself as a seasoned parliamentarian who was known for his knowledge and articulation. He was also my friend with whom I had several interactions. I will always recall my interactions with him. Condolences to his bereaved family and supporters. Om Shanti!”

West Bengal chief minister Banerjee Mamata in a social media post said that the death of Yechury was a loss for national politics. “Sad to know that Sri Sitaram Yechury has passed away. I knew the veteran parliamentarian that he was and his demise will be a loss for national politics. I express my condolences to his family, friends and colleagues,” Mamata said in a post on X.

Pinarayi Vijayan, a fellow party-member and Kerala chief minister, said his comrade was an ‘unparalleled brave leader of the communist movement’.

“Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said that Sitaram Yechury was an unparalleled brave leader of the communist movement. I am hearing the news of Sitaram’s demise with great sadness and heartbreak,” he said.

Vijayan said Sitaram Yechury emerged from the student movement and steered the CPI(M) through tough political phases during his nine years as general secretary. He provided clear leadership, guiding both the party and the broader Left. The Kerala CM called his absence a huge loss and said it comes at a time when the country faces serious challenges.

Senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh condoled the passing away Yechury and said he was an “unrepentant Marxist with a pragmatic streak, a pillar of the CPI(M), and a superb Parliamentarian”.

In a post on X, Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said, “Sitaram Yechury – a very fine human being, a multilingual bibliophile, an unrepentant Marxist with a pragmatic streak, a pillar of the CPM, and a superb Parliamentarian with a wonderful wit and sense of humour – is most sadly no more.” “Our association stretched over three decades, and we collaborated closely at different occasions. He had friends across the political spectrum and was admired for the strength of his convictions and for his most engaging personality,” Ramesh said.