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Left : CPI(M) may get a new leader |
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Reports say that Prakash Karat, who has been functioning as a de facto leader of the CPI(M) so far is all set to take over as the de jure chief of the party at the forthcoming 18th party congress.
The politburo member is expected to formally take over from the ailing Harkishan Singh Surjeet who is nearing 90. That does not mean Surjeet will call it a day. On the contrary, the leadership will institutionalise a division of labour with Karat taking over the organisation matters and Surjeet focusing on the political networking and liaisoning department, so crucial in the coalition era.
The division of labour is nothing new in the CPI(M). Surjeet had co-existed with his predecessor EMS. In fact, he has been expressing his desire to be relieved of his formal leadership ever since his body started failing to match his mind and political skills. But the absence of a suitable replacement who could emulate Surjeet’s multifaceted skills, resulted in the last Hyderabad party congress re-electing him as the general secretary. However, with his health continuing to decline, the April party congress in Delhi may have to finally lessen his burden.
For the past two years, Karat has virtually been functioning as a de facto general secretary with Surjeet limiting himself to political negotiations with the Congress and the UPA allies. Any other politburo member Sitaram Yechury, a fellow JNU revolutionary of Karat, is also being seen as a contender for the post. But, according to party sources, he may have to wait for more time. There are suggestions that Karat should be formally decorated with some post in the party congress, either as full-fledged general secretary, or as a joint general secretary, to formalise the generation changeover.
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