CPI(M) central committee begins three-day meeting, may discuss

The central committee of the CPI (M) began a three-day meeting here today with the panel discussing issues such as the agrarian "crisis" and the party's preparation for its 22nd Congress, said a senior leader.
The committee may also discuss party general secretary Sitaram Yechury's third consecutive term in the Rajya Sabha over the next two days, the leader added.
"The committee deliberated on issues such as the preparation of the next party Congress to be organised in Hyderabad sometime in April 2018. It also spoke about the present agrarian crisis.
"The issue of whether to allow Yechury a third term may be taken up over the next two days," he said.

According to norm, CPI(M) leaders are not allowed more than two terms in the upper House. Yechury, whose second term ends next month, has already stated that he will stick to the norm being the party general secretary.
The West Bengal unit of the party had in June this year proposed another term for Yechury. This was after the Congress reportedly offered its support to Yechury to get him re- elected to the Rajya Sabha from West Bengal.

The Left Front has 32 MLAs, including 26 of the CPI(M), in the state assembly. The numbers are not enough to send Yechury or any other Left leader to the Rajya Sabha again.

However, the Congress, with its 44 MLAs in West Bengal, is ready to help get Yechury re-elected to the upper House, the leader said.
The politburo has rejected the state unit's proposal, which is likely to be raised during the next two days.
The leader added that there is "still no consensus" on the issue within the party yet. Its Kerala unit, in particular, is opposed to the idea.
"There is a feeling that the party's general secretary should not be elected with the help of the Congress - the rival of the CPI(M) in Kerala.
"However, the committee will have to decide on the issue given that the deadline for filing nomination for the August 8 Rajya Sabha election is July 28," the leader added.