NEW DELHI: The decision on third Rajya Sabha term for CPI (M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury is expected to be taken by the party Central Committee in its meeting scheduled in third week of July.
The Polit Bureau, which met in Delhi, discussed the matter but it was decided that any decision will be taken when notification comes for Rajya Sabha elections, said Yechury, when asked about his candidature.
“A decision will be taken, when elections are announced,” he said.
Party sources, however, said that the Polit Bureau decided to leave it to the central committee, which is party’s executive body, to take a final call. The central committee is likely to meet July 23-25 and a final decision is expected at that time.
According to party’s constitution, no member can have two Rajya Sabha terms. Yechury’s second term ends in August. There is division among the party with Kerala faction opposing his candidature for a third term while West Bengal unit has passed a resolution supporting it.
Yechury himself has made it clear that he is not interested in getting a third term and will abide by party’s constitution.
The Election Commission on May 16 had announced biennial election for six Rajya Sabha seats from West Bengal. Of the six seats that fell vacant in the state, the ruling Trinamool Congress is certain to win five and on one seat Congress is ready to support Yechury’s candidature. The notification was later withdrawn by the EC.
The Opposition parties have been pushing for his re-election to Rajya Sabha because he is a prominent Opposition face and a powerful speaker to take on BJP in Rajya Sabha, where the ruling government is in minority.
To have Yechury in upper house is also important for the party as CPI(M) currently has eight members and two of its other members from West Bengal Tapan Kumar Sen and Ritabrata Banerjee are due to retire in 2020. After that party will not have any member in Rajya Sabha from West Bengal, which .