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Karat nixes Yechury’s plan for Left-Congress alliance

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8 years ago

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Karat nixes Yechury’s plan for Left-Congress alliance

By Puneet Nicholas Yadav

Sitaram Yechury offered to resign as Prakash Karat’s Kerala faction derailed his proposal for pre-poll alliance with Congress in run up to 2019 elections

Months after ensuring that he does not get a third term in the Rajya Sabha, the Kerala faction of the CPM led by veteran Prakash Karat, on Sunday, derailed party general secretary Sitaram Yechury’s politically pragmatic proposal of entering into a pre-poll alliance with the Congress in the run up to the 2019 general election to dent BJP’s chances of retaining power at the Centre.

CPM sources, who were present at Sunday’s central committee meeting held in Kolkata, hinted that Yechury offered to resign from his post after his proposal was comprehensively rejected by his colleagues, arguing that the development would make his position as party general secretary “untenable”.

This is the second major setback for Yechury since July last year when the Prakash Karat-led faction of the party, comprising largely of comrades from the communist party’s Kerala unit and some from Bengal and Tripura, swiftly nixed the possibility of the CPM general secretary being re-nominated to the Rajya Sabha for a third consecutive term. The CPM does not offer any of its members more than two consecutive terms in Rajya Sabha. However, Yechury’s supporters had argued then that given his stature, camaraderie with leaders of other Opposition parties, brilliant oratory and firm grip on socio-political and economic issues of the country, he was the party’s best bet in the Upper House given the prevailing political situation.

If the developments in July had revealed the turmoil within a CPM that is struggling for survival ever since it lost Bengal to Mamata Banerjee’s Trinamool Congress, Sunday’smachinations at the central committee meeting further cemented the speculation of factional feuds between the Yechury and Karat camps.

Within the Left front, Yechury has always represented a moderate and politically pragmatic voice.  He is known as a leader who is willing to engage with other ‘secular’ parties on political and economic issues which can help the CPM retain, if not expand, its dwindling support among the masses even if doing so dilutes the party’s more radical agenda. In stark contrast, the Karat-camp, which has Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan as one of its strongest backers, is known for its hardline outlook, one that is willing to sacrifice the party’s political standing in the hope of retaining its ideological identity.

It is this divide that political observers believe has led to the downfall of the Left in the past two decades. The hardliners had prevailed over the party to rob the late Jyoti Basu – then chief minister of Bengal – of the opportunity of becoming the country first Prime Minister from a Left party back in 1997 only because they didn’t favour the idea of the stalwart assuming the high office with the support of the Congress and other secular parties. That decision paved the way for Atal Bihari Vajpayee-led BJP and the NDA coalition to come to power at the Centre. Later, in 2004, while the Left parties did give outside support to the Congress-led UPA government, Karat as general secretary was instrumental in forcing then Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh to face a trust vote because the CPM didn’t agree with the Centre’s decision of signing the nuclear deal with the US. While the UPA survived the trust vote and managed to retain power – with a greater strength – in the 2009 general elections, the Left was decimated in the years that followed; wiped out of Bengal as well as Kerala. The rout continued in 2014 as the BJP, led by Narendra Modi, stormed to power at the Centre while the Left continued to fight for political survival in its erstwhile bastions.

Now, as the communists struggle to come out of their political wilderness, Yechury has been hoping that a tactical alliance with the Congress could help the party regain lost ground at least in Bengal – a state currently under the firm control of Mamata Banerjee’s Trinamool Congress but where the BJP is making significant in-roads; eating into the crammed Opposition space occupied by the Left and the Congress.

However, the argument of the Prakash Karat-Pinarayi Vijayan Kerala axis against a potential Left-Congress alliance is one that Yechury and his supporters have not been able to find a reply to. Karat and Vijayan draw their political strength from Kerala, where the Congress is the key rival of the ruling CPM. Karat believes that his party would lose credibility among comrades and supporters if it allies with its principle rival in Kerala at the Centre or in Bengal. Karat’s argument also holds true in Tripura where the incumbent CPM government under Manik Sarkar has hitherto had the Congress as its arch rival. The Tripura scenario may, however, change later this year when the state goes to polls as the BJP is investing heavily to make in-roads in the north-eastern state and is already in talks with smaller regional outfits for a rainbow coalition.

For the Congress, Sunday’s developments are at best a mini-setback. The CPM’s decision to not ally with the Congress won’t affect the Grand Old Party in Kerala where it already has a significant vote-base and strong grassroots leadership. In Bengal the Congress is a marginal player and still has the option of reviving its alliance with the Trinamool to keep itself relevant.

Karat’s decision may help the CPM retain Kerala for now but in the longer run, it could bring the party more harm just as his decision of pulling out of the UPA in 2008 – much against Yechury’s advice – did.

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Case registered against Mamata Banerjee over controversial 2025 religion remark

A formal police case has been registered against Trinamool Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee in Siliguri, West Bengal. The complaint alleges that her 2025 “Ganda Dharm” remark targeted Hinduism and hurt the religious sentiments of the community.

Published

39 mins ago

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May 27, 2026

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Mamata Banerjee

A formal police complaint has been lodged against Trinamool Congress (TMC) chief Mamata Banerjee in West Bengal’s Siliguri. The legal action stems from an alleged derogatory remark regarding Hinduism made during an Eid congregation in Kolkata in 2025.

The case was registered following a complaint filed by a local lawyer, Rinki Chatterjee, who alleged that the former Chief Minister’s comments deeply hurt the religious sentiments of Hindus globally.

Legal charges and complaint details

The police have invoked multiple sections under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) against Banerjee, including Section 351(1) for criminal intimidation, Section 352 for intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of peace, and Section 353 for promoting feelings of enmity, hatred, or ill will between different communities.

According to the complaint, the controversy traces back to an Eid event organized on Kolkata’s iconic Red Road in 2025. While delivering a speech targeting the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Banerjee purportedly referred to the version of Hinduism championed by the political rival as “Ganda Dharm” (filthy religion).

Chatterjee stated in her complaint that labeling Sanatan Dharma in such a manner at a religious gathering was “absolutely unacceptable”. The complainant also pointed to other instances where senior TMC leaders allegedly targeted Hinduism, adding that Banerjee made indirect threats to the Hindu community during the 2026 West Bengal Assembly election campaign to influence voters through intimidation.

Political responses to the FIR

The reported statements had previously drawn sharp criticism from the state BJP leadership last year, including strong objections from current Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari. However, this FIR represents the first formal legal action taken regarding the speech.

When approached for a response, Atri Sharma, a lawyer and general secretary of the TMC’s Darjeeling unit, declined to comment officially as a party spokesperson. However, he noted that many within the party internal circles found the remarks inappropriate at the time they were spoken. Sharma acknowledged that holding a high public office required restraint and affirmed that every individual holds the moral right to pursue legal remedies.

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Congress Dismisses Karnataka Leadership Transition Rumors After Six-Hour Delhi Meet

The Congress party has rejected ongoing rumors regarding a leadership change or a rotating Chief Minister formula in Karnataka, stating that a recent six-hour meeting in Delhi focused strictly on the upcoming Rajya Sabha and MLC elections.

Published

15 hours ago

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May 26, 2026

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The Congress party has strongly downplayed the intense political buzz surrounding a potential leadership transition or a change in the Chief Minister’s post in Karnataka. Following a marathon six-hour meeting with the state’s top leadership in New Delhi, the party explicitly rejected the ongoing speculation, labeling it as having “no reality.”

A brief statement issued to the media after the high-level meeting advised against spreading rumors, clarifying that the discussions were entirely centered on upcoming electoral strategies rather than structural changes within the state government. The party stated that the deliberations solely revolved around the state’s three vacant Rajya Sabha seats and the upcoming Member of Legislative Council (MLC) elections.

Rajya Sabha and MLC Polls Take Center Stage

The high-stakes meeting was attended by Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, senior leader Rahul Gandhi, and party General Secretary KC Venugopal, alongside Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar.

Briefing the media post-meeting, KC Venugopal stated that conversations were strictly confined to the Rajya Sabha and MLC elections, emphasizing that there is no truth to any other political speculation. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah also confirmed that the agenda of a potential cabinet expansion or a leadership shift did not come up during the six-hour-long discussion.

Background of the Power Struggle

The question of leadership in Karnataka has remained a recurring theme for over a year. Supporters of Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar have consistently maintained that the central leadership promised a rotating Chief Ministership arrangement when the government was formed after the 2023 assembly elections.

Speculation had intensified recently as the ruling government faced local anti-incumbency pressures alongside renewed political activity from the opposition bench. Some internal reports had even indicated a push from within certain sections of the high command, including Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, for a leadership revamp.

Balancing Caste Equations and Party Structure

The central leadership has navigated the situation cautiously to maintain political stability. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, 80, commands a powerful “Ahinda” support base—a coalition comprising minority communities, backward classes, and Dalits. This social alliance was crucial in helping the party navigate the traditional Vokkaliga and Lingayat caste dynamics during the 2023 elections.

Although the rotation issue had previously gained significant momentum when the government completed two years in office, the party high command had chosen to maintain the status quo to avoid any adverse electoral impact in neighboring assembly elections, such as in Tamil Nadu. With those elections concluded, supporters of the 64-year-old Deputy Chief Minister had expressed optimism for a transition. Shivakumar currently holds the dual responsibility of being the Deputy Chief Minister as well as the state Congress chief, signaling his critical organizational value to the party. However, for the time being, the party high command has firmly signaled that the current leadership structure will remain unchanged.

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Congress high command steps in to resolve Karnataka leadership impasse with crucial Delhi meeting

The Congress leadership, including Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi, is holding a vital meeting in Delhi with Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to find a definitive solution to the state’s prolonged leadership impasse.

Published

1 day ago

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May 26, 2026

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The top leadership of the Congress party is scheduled to hold a high-level meeting at its headquarters in the national capital today morning to address the long-standing leadership dispute in Karnataka. Senior leaders, including party president Mallikarjun Kharge and MP Rahul Gandhi, will lead the discussions aimed at resolving the continuous friction between Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar.

The ongoing power struggle over the state’s top position has persisted since the party’s electoral victory in 2023. For the current session, only Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has been called to join the discussions in Delhi. When questioned about the agenda by reporters, the Chief Minister stated that he was unaware of the specific subjects to be discussed, noting that political speculation is inevitable.

Background of the internal division

The internal friction intensified significantly in November 2025 when the state government completed its two-and-a-half-year mark in office. Supporters of the Deputy Chief Minister pointed to a purported unacknowledged internal arrangement suggesting a rotational chief ministership split equally across the five-year term. Despite multiple prior interventions by central party leadership to manage the internal friction, a permanent resolution has remained elusive.

While Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar has not been invited to this morning’s initial session, indications suggest that separate individual discussions and a potential joint meeting involving both leaders are planned as part of the broader resolution process. Observers note that several state ministers and legislators have also traveled to the national capital as the party leadership aims to settle the administrative roadmap and finalise leadership plans before the next assembly elections.

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