Race between Yechury and Pillai hots up as CPI(M) sets out elect next general secretary

Visakhapatnam: The Communist Party of India-Marxist on Sunday began a crucial meet to elect a new general secretary.

On the final day of the 21st Congress, the party will choose the new Central Committee, which will then elect a new politburo and general secretary.

Party’s politburo met on Saturday night and finalised the names to the new Central Committee (CC). The CC meeting, which began at 9 a.m., will discuss the names.

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.

Current politburo members Sitaram Yechury or S. Ramachandran Pillai is likely to succeed Prakash Karat as the new general secretary.

The party has always elected its leader unanimously.

IANS