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Sitaram Yechury

Sitaram Yechury is an Indian politician and the fifth General Secretary of the Communist Party of India - Marxist (CPI-M). He is currently a member of Rajya Sabha and is famously known as one of the prominent leaders of the opposition party. He was elected as the General Secretary of CPI-M on 19^th April 2015. Yechury is the parliamentary group leader of the CPI-M and a politburo member of the party. He is a celebrated columnist, an economist and a social worker.

Sitaram Yechury was born on 12^th August 1952 in Madras (now Chennai) in a Telugu speaking Brahmin family. His father, Sarveswara Somayajula Yechury, was an Andhra Pradesh State Road Corporation Engineer and his mother, Kalpakam Yechury, was a government officer. Sitaram Yechury spent his childhood in Hyderabad. Sitaram Yechury did his matriculation from All Saints High School in Hyderabad. He came to Delhi following the Telangana Agitation of 1969 and got admitted into Presidents Estate School. Owing to his exceptional academic acumen, Yechury got all India first class first in CBSE Higher Secondary Examination in 1970. He joined the reputed St. Stephens College of Delhi University and did his B.A. (Hons.) in Economics from there. Yechury then obtained a master's degree in Economics from Jawaharlal Nehru University, Delhi.

Sitaram Yechury stepped into the Indian political arena in 1974 when he became a member of the Students Federation of India (SFI). He joined the ranks of the Communist Party of India - Marxist in 1975 when he was still a student at Jawaharlal University in Delhi. Yechury was amongst many who were arrested during the Emergency imposed in 1975 by Indira Gandhi, the then Prime Minister of India. He also pursued a Ph.D in Economics from JNU, however, he could not continue it because of being arrested during the Emergency of 1975-1977. Sitaram Yechury was elected the President of JNU Student's Union thrice in one year after his release from jail following the removal of the Emergency in 1977. Sitaram Yechury and the former General Secretary of the CPI-M Prakash Karat made JNU a leftist stronghold. Yechury was elected as the General Secretary of the SFI and later was appointed as its President in 1978. Yechury became a member of the CPI-M Central Committee in 1984. Two years later, he parted his ways with the SFI. At the 14th congress of the CPI-M, Sitaram Yechury was elected as the party politburo in 1992. Yechury was instrumental, along with former Union Minister P. Chidambaram, in drafting the 'Common Minimum Programme' in 1996 for the United Front Government. He also played a significant part in building a coalition process to be a part of the UPA government in 2004.

Sitaram Yechury was first elected to the Rajya Sabha (the Upper House of the Parliament) from West Bengal in 2005. He has been a noted figure of the Upper House ever since by having brought issues of common interest and public welfare to the fore and by frequently disrupting the ruling governments over a number of issues over the years. In his political career, he has held several positions. After being elected to Rajya Sabha on 25 Sept. 2005 , in 2006 he became the Member of Committee on Home Affairs (13 April 2006-May 2009). From Aug. 2010 onwards he was appointed as the Chairman, Committee on Transport, Tourism and Culture 13 April 2006 onwards Member, General Purposes Committee May 2006-May 2009. Other positions he held were Member, Parliamentary Forum on Population and Public Health June 2006 onwards; Member, Committe on Ethics June 2006 - Sept. 2007; Member, Business Advisory Committee Aug. 2006-Dec. 2008; Member, Joint Committee to examine the constitutional and legal position relating to Office of Profit Sept. 2006 onwards; Member, Committee of Privileges May 2009 - May 2012; Member, Court of the Jawaharlal Nehru University Aug. 2009 onwards; Member, Joint Parliamentary Committee on Installation of Portraits/ Statues of National Leaders and Parliamentarians in Parliament House Member, Consultative Committee for the Ministry of External Affairs July 2010 onwards Member, Indian Council of World Affairs March 2011 onwards Member, JPC to examine matters relating to allocation and pricing of telecom licences and spectrum Aug. 2011 Re-elected to Rajya Sabha Aug. 2012 Chairman, Committee on Agriculture

Yechury is often criticised by the government for causing regular disruptions; however, he hails it as his democratic right. His current term as a member of the Rajya Sabha is from 19 August 2011 until 18 August 2017. 19 April 2015 came to be known as the day on which Sitaram Yechury was unanimously elected as the fifth General Secretary of the Communist Party of India - Marxist at the 21st party congress held in Visakhapatnam. He succeeded Prakash Karat. Sitaram Yechury and his fellow politburo member S. Ramachandran Pillai were the contenders for the coveted position; however, the latter pulled out and Yechury rose to the position of Party General Secretary. Yechury is married to journalist Seema Chisti Yechury. She is the Resident Editor of Indian Express and was formerly the Delhi Editor of BBC Hindi. Sitaram Yechury has a son with Seema Chisti Yechury. Sitaram Yechury's first wife was the daughter of the famous Left-Wing activist Vina Mazumdar. Akhila Yechury, his daughter, is a professor of History and teaches at the University of St. Andrews and she was a lecturer at the University of Edinburgh.

Yechury calls for unified movement to oust BJP in LS polls next year
PTI Feeds | November 25, 2018 8:09 PM IST
Agartala, Nov 25 (PTI) CPI(M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury Sunday called for a unified movement...
Yechury calls for unified movement to oust BJP in LS polls next year
indiacom
2018-11-25T09:09:22+00:00
2018-11-25T09:09:22+00:00
Sitaram Yechury
India.com
BJP failed to perform, resorting to communal polarisation: Yechury
PTI Feeds | November 16, 2018 9:36 PM IST
Jaipur, Nov 16 (PTI) CPI(M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury Friday said the BJP governments at the...
BJP failed to perform, resorting to communal polarisation: Yechury
indiacom
2018-11-16T10:36:24+00:00
2018-11-16T10:36:24+00:00
Sitaram Yechury
India.com
Modi Government Can't Handle Its Own Appointees, Says Sitaram Yechury on RBI-Centre rift
India.com News Desk | October 31, 2018 7:04 PM IST
New Delhi: Taking a dig at the RBI-government rift, CPI-M General Secretary Sitaram Yechury on Wedne...
Modi Government Can't Handle Its Own Appointees, Says Sitaram Yechury on RBI-Centre rift
indiacom
2018-10-31T08:04:15+00:00
2018-10-31T08:04:44+00:00
Sitaram Yechury
India.com
Why not triple talaq line to Sabarimala, Yechury asks Centre
PTI Feeds | October 19, 2018 7:18 PM IST
Chennai, Oct 19 (PTI) CPI(M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury Friday demanded to know why the Centr...
Why not triple talaq line to Sabarimala, Yechury asks Centre
indiacom
2018-10-19T08:18:56+00:00
2018-10-19T08:18:56+00:00
Sitaram Yechury
India.com
Faulty policies have pushed economy to worst ever crisis: Yechury
PTI Feeds | October 15, 2018 10:12 PM IST
Bhubaneswar, Oct 15 (PTI) CPI(M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury Monday said the "faulty" policies...
Faulty policies have pushed economy to worst ever crisis: Yechury
indiacom
2018-10-15T11:12:18+00:00
2018-10-15T11:12:18+00:00
Sitaram Yechury
India.com
CPI(M) to work on maximising anti-BJP votes in LS polls: Yechury
PTI Feeds | October 15, 2018 8:27 PM IST
Bhubaneswar, Oct 15 (PTI) CPI(M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury Monday said the party's agenda in...
CPI(M) to work on maximising anti-BJP votes in LS polls: Yechury
indiacom
2018-10-15T09:27:21+00:00
2018-10-15T09:27:21+00:00
Sitaram Yechury
India.com
Left's main task is to ensure BJP's defeat in 2019 polls : Yechury
PTI Feeds | October 8, 2018 7:51 PM IST
New Delhi, Oct 8 (PTI) CPI(M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury Monday said the focus of his party w...
Left's main task is to ensure BJP's defeat in 2019 polls : Yechury
indiacom
2018-10-08T08:51:27+00:00
2018-10-08T08:51:27+00:00
Sitaram Yechury
India.com
RSS' Three-day Lecture Series Begins Today; Rahul Gandhi, Other Oppn Leaders Likely to Snub Event
India.com News Desk | September 17, 2018 10:18 AM IST
RSS' Three-day Lecture Series Begins Today; Rahul Gandhi, Other Oppn Leaders Likely to Snub Event
indiacom
2018-09-16T23:18:55+00:00
2018-09-16T23:29:16+00:00
Sitaram Yechury
India.com
Congress Warns Rahul Gandhi Against Accepting RSS Invite, Says 'Organisation is Like Poison'
India.com News Desk | August 30, 2018 4:24 PM IST
New Delhi: Senior Congress leaders in the core group meeting today advised Rahul Gandhi to not accep...
Congress Warns Rahul Gandhi Against Accepting RSS Invite, Says 'Organisation is Like Poison'
indiacom
2018-08-30T05:24:56+00:00
2018-08-30T05:37:19+00:00
Sitaram Yechury
India.com
BJP's Practice of Losing Elections And Forming Government Stopped in Karnataka: Sitaram Yechury
India.com News Desk | May 22, 2018 4:56 PM IST
New Delhi, May 22: Communist Party of India (Marxist) general secretary Sitaram Yechury said that th...
BJP's Practice of Losing Elections And Forming Government Stopped in Karnataka: Sitaram Yechury
indiacom
2018-05-22T05:56:42+00:00
2018-05-22T05:56:42+00:00
Sitaram Yechury
India.com
Opposition must unite to protect democracy: Patole
PTI Feeds | January 28, 2018 7:10 PM IST
Mumbai, Jan 28 (PTI) Former BJP MP Nana Patole today said the Opposition parties should come togethe...
Opposition must unite to protect democracy: Patole
indiacom
2018-01-28T08:10:16+00:00
2018-01-28T08:10:16+00:00
Sitaram Yechury
India.com
BJP, oppn parties hold rallies on R-Day; target each other
PTI Feeds | January 26, 2018 9:31 PM IST
(Eds: Incorporating march, rally series) Mumbai, Jan 26 (PTI) The BJP and opposition parties today h...
BJP, oppn parties hold rallies on R-Day; target each other
indiacom
2018-01-26T10:31:09+00:00
2018-01-26T10:31:09+00:00
Sitaram Yechury
India.com
On R-Day, Oppn tries another unity bid against BJP, says it is to 'save' Constitution
PTI Feeds | January 26, 2018 6:37 PM IST
Mumbai, Jan 26 (PTI) NCP chief Sharad Pawar said today that opposition parties will meet in New Delh...
On R-Day, Oppn tries another unity bid against BJP, says it is to 'save' Constitution
indiacom
2018-01-26T07:37:17+00:00
2018-01-26T07:37:17+00:00
Sitaram Yechury
India.com
Former Congress Law Ministers Oppose Motion to Remove CJI Dipak Misra
India.com News Desk | January 25, 2018 11:26 AM IST
New Delhi, Jan 25: The Congress appears to be divided on the issue of motion to remove Chief Justice...
Former Congress Law Ministers Oppose Motion to Remove CJI Dipak Misra
indiacom
2018-01-25T00:26:37+00:00
2018-01-25T00:26:37+00:00
Sitaram Yechury
India.com
Congress to discuss CPI(M)'s CJI proposal with other parties
PTI Feeds | January 24, 2018 11:31 PM IST
New Delhi, Jan 24 (PTI) The Congress today was ambivalent about CPI(M) leader Sitaram Yechury's prop...
Congress to discuss CPI(M)'s CJI proposal with other parties
indiacom
2018-01-24T12:31:31+00:00
2018-01-24T12:31:31+00:00
Sitaram Yechury
India.com
Sitaram Yechury Offered Resignation as CPM Rejected His Tie-up Proposal: Report
India.com News Desk | January 22, 2018 1:15 PM IST
New Delhi, Jan 22: Communist Party of India (Marxist) general secretary Sitaram Yechury reportedly o...
Sitaram Yechury Offered Resignation as CPM Rejected His Tie-up Proposal: Report
indiacom
2018-01-22T02:15:45+00:00
2018-01-22T02:15:45+00:00
Sitaram Yechury
India.com
Pres Kovind, PM Modi mourn legendary actor Shashi Kapoor's demise
ANI Feeds | December 5, 2017 12:48 AM IST
New Delhi [India], Dec 5 (ANI): President Ram Nath Kovind and Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday...
Pres Kovind, PM Modi mourn legendary actor Shashi Kapoor's demise
indiacom
2017-12-04T13:48:09+00:00
2017-12-04T13:48:09+00:00
Sitaram Yechury
India.com
BJP Raising Issue of Political Killings a Case of Pot Calling Kettle Black, Says CPM General Secretary Sitaram Yechury
India.com News Desk | October 4, 2017 5:33 PM IST
New Delhi, October 4: Communist Party of India (Marxist) General Secretary Sitaram Yechury on Wednes...
BJP Raising Issue of Political Killings a Case of Pot Calling Kettle Black, Says CPM General Secretary Sitara
indiacom
2017-10-04T06:33:26+00:00
2017-10-04T06:34:14+00:00
Sitaram Yechury
India.com
Raj Babbar Seeks CM Yogi Adityanath's Resignation Over Gorakhpur Tragedy, Calls It 'Cold-Blooded Murder'
India.com News Desk | August 13, 2017 2:57 PM IST
New Delhi, August 13: Calling the Gorakhpur children tragedy 'cold-blooded murder', Congress's Raj B...
Raj Babbar Seeks CM Yogi Adityanath's Resignation Over Gorakhpur Tragedy, Calls It 'Cold-Blooded Murder'
indiacom
2017-08-13T03:57:08+00:00
2017-08-13T04:50:54+00:00
Sitaram Yechury
India.com
RSS Seeks Court-Monitored Probe Into Killing of Kerala Workers; CPM Puts Onus on Sangh
India.com News Desk | August 4, 2017 7:26 PM IST
New Delhi, Aug 4: The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh accused the Left Front government in Kerala of fai...
RSS Seeks Court-Monitored Probe Into Killing of Kerala Workers; CPM Puts Onus on Sangh
indiacom
2017-08-04T08:26:17+00:00
2017-08-04T08:51:07+00:00
Sitaram Yechury
India.com