CPI-ML, SUCI to join common platform with Left for first time

New Delhi: CPI(ML) and SUCI will for the first time join a common platform with four Left parties in November to carry out joint campaigns and protests against the "anti-people" policies of BJP-led government, including its "attempts to dilute" labour laws and MGNREGA.

So far, the four Left parties – CPI-M, CPI, RSP and Forward Bloc - have been working together and even been part of the Left state governments in West Bengal and Kerala. This is the first time that CPI-ML (Liberation) and SUCI would be joining hands with them.

The six parties would hold a joint meeting here on November one to chalk out a common strategy to launch joint campaigns and protest actions against "anti-people" policies of the Narendra Modi government as well as the communal menace, CPI-M General Secretary Prakash Karat told reporters.

"This will be the beginning. CPI-ML (Liberation) and SUCI -- these two parties are finalised. We are talking to and have approached some other parties too," he said.

"Our first priority is to strengthen the organisational structure of our party. Then we will try to bring together Left forces and strengthen their unity. We will also try at the same time to bring together other secular democratic forces too," Karat said.

Charging the Modi government with trying to "curtail, undo and restrict" the MGNREGA which has provided "at least a modicum of relief" to the rural poor, he said it would organise a nationwide campaign against the Centre's move on the issue on December 2.

At the same time, the party would support the struggle of Central Trade Unions against the amendments made by the government in labour legislations which will "take majority of workers out of the purview of labour laws".