Visakhapatnam: Sitaram Yechury has been unanimously elected the new general secretary of the Communist Party of India (Marxist). His name was proposed for the post by outgoing party chief Prakash Karat and veteran S Ramachandran Pillai, who had initially been in the race for the post.

The official announcement of the leadership change in the CPI (M) came towards the end of the six-day party congress at Visakhapatnam today. Mr Yechury takes over the reins of the party from Prakash Karat, who has completed three terms as general secretary of the party.

The CPM also elected a new Central Committee, its highest executive body, of 91 members, besides naming five special invitees and five permanent invitees. One of the permanent invitees named today is the party’s founding member VS Achuthanandan, 91, on account of his age.

Mr Yechury’s name had been proposed after party stalwart S Ramachandra Pillai decided to withdraw from the race for the general secretary’s post. He had received support from the party unit from West Bengal, which he represents in the Rajya Sabha.

Mr Pillai had received the support of the Kerala unit of the party, led by powerful satrap Pinarayi Vijayan.

Mr Yechury’s backers had argued that at 62, 15 years younger than Mr Pillai, he would hold appeal for sections beyond the party’s traditional base, especially the youth. Other things in his favour included his high profile in public and in the Rajya Sabha. Also, like his mentor, the stalwart Harkishan Singh Surjeet, Mr Yechury shares a good rapport with parties from across the political spectrum.