The Communist Party of India (Marxist) is set to decide whether party general secretary Sitaram Yechury should seek a third Rajya Sabha term, party sources said.
Mr. Yechury — seen as an articulate Rajya Sabha member — has completed two terms in the Upper House.
As per party tradition, the general secretary is not expected to go beyond two terms, and Mr. Yechury had months back said he would not seek a third term.
However, the party was to take a call on the matter — something he said in a previous media interaction — as the Congress in West Bengal had extended support for him, saying it would field its own candidate if he did not contest.
Without the support of the Congress — which has 44 MLAs in the Assembly there — the CPI(M) cannot win a seat.
Party sources said that while the Bengal unit has been backing a third term for him, the Kerala group is not in support of it.
This may mean that Mr. Yechury may not seek a third term, they claim.
However, the party’s ongoing central committee is expected to make a statement on the matter.
Mr. Yechury could not be reached for a formal comment.