Allegation that Pinarayi Vijayan is controlling the party is false; solidarity is above individual, says Yechury

NEW DELHI: General Secretary Sitaram Yechury said those who accuse Pinarayi Vijayan of controlling the party don’t know the structure of the CPM. This accusation is made by those who accept the culture of the high command. This is the practice of most parties. However, the CPM's practices are completely different. Unity is above an individual, he said.

General Secretary’s stand in the CPM has been repeatedly rejected by majority opinion. Jyoti Basu did not become Prime Minister despite the support of Surjeet Singh, the then general secretary. The reason is majority’s stand in the party. Such criticisms are raised by those who don’t understand what the party is, he said.

The state committee decided to exclude K K Shailaja in the cabinet. This is a unanimous decision. If relaxations were given to Shailaja, then others should also be given the same.

In Kerala, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal, the majority voted against the BJP. The people supported those likely to win against the BJP. The real fight has just begun in Bengal. The CPM fielded new faces as candidates. They are the future of the party, he said.