Sitaram Yechury, born on August 12, 1952, in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, is a prominent Indian politician and the General Secretary of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPI-M), a position he has held since 2015. Yechury is known for his strong advocacy of socialist policies, workers’ rights, and secularism, playing a significant role in the left-wing politics of India. As a Member of Parliament (MP) in the Rajya Sabha from 2005 to 2017, he was known for his articulate debates, focusing on economic issues, social justice, and foreign policy.

Yechury has been an influential figure in the CPI(M), contributing to party strategies, policy initiatives, and alliances with other opposition parties. His leadership has been marked by efforts to revive left-wing politics in India, particularly in states like Kerala, West Bengal, and Tripura. He is also known for his emphasis on public healthcare, education, and land rights.

In September 2024, BOOM fact-checked a viral social media post falsely claiming that Yechury was a Christian, based on the fact that his body was placed in a wooden casket instead of being cremated.

BOOM found out that this was done because Yechury's body was donated to AIIMS for medical research, debunking the misleading claims about his religion.