CPI has no reservations in joining hands with cong to fight BJP: Sudhakar Reddy

At a time when the CPI(M) is yet to make up its mind on whether to participate in a broader anti-BJP secular platform along with the Congress, another Left Front partner, the Communist Party of India (CPI) has said it has no reservations of that kind.

Talking to reporters on the occasion of the three-day International Seminar of the Communist and Workers Parties in the city, CPI general secretary Sudhakar Reddy said, “The need of the day is the broadest alliance of Left, secular and democratic parties to counter the attacks of communal political parties. We will work relentlessly in forging the platform at the national level. In the states, the individual state-level leadership will decide on the alliance of with the regional political outfits. Congress is a part of the broader secular alliance and CPI has already passed a resolution in forging the platform during its last national executive meeting.”

CPI’s decision to share a common platform with the Congress at the national level will surely act as a major pressure point for Left Front biggie CPI(M), which is virtually split over the same decision.

CPI(M) hardliners Prakash Karat, Pinarayi Vijayan and several other Central Committee members have already voiced their strong opposition in joining any platform where Congress is a part. On the other hand, party general secretary Sitaram Yechury or Politburo member Surjya Kanta Mishra and many senior leaders from West Bengal have opined for a moderate approach, keeping the anti-BJP plank as the mainstay. The recently concluded CPI(M) Central Committee meeting in Delhi, yet again ended in a limbo over joining hands with the Congress in combating the BJP in the coming elections.

The decision of CPI will also bear down heavy on CPI(M) before the Hyderabad Party Congress scheduled in April next year, where there are high chances of placing two separate draft resolutions on the party’s future political and tactical line. CPI will also have its Party Congress in Kollam in Kerala, just ahead of CPI(M) apex conclave.

Citing instances of regional parties like the Trinamool Congress coming together and joining the secular platform during the last Presidential and Vice-Presidential elections, Reddy said everyone sharing anti-BJP and anti-communal sentiments are welcome in the broader alliance.

CPI West Bengal secretary Probodh Panda and party deputy general secretary Gurudas Dasgupta, however, made it clear that the Left party will not be joining hands with the Trinamool Congress in Bengal.