Ahead of Parliament session, CPI(M) eyes protests to garner support

Struggling to strengthen its national foothold, the CPI(M) has planned a week-long protest programme across the country with the aim to consolidate its position in the Opposition quarters.

Struggling to strengthen its national foothold, the CPI(M) has planned a week-long protest programme across the country with the aim to consolidate its position in the Opposition quarters.

File photo of CPI(M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury presiding over a Politburo meeting at the party office in New Delhi.(PTI Photo)

The party has carefully picked the twin issues of price rise and unemployment to hit the streets from July 11 to highlight the failures of the NDA government.

“During our last central committee meeting, many pressing issues were highlighted but unemployment and price rise were highlighted by almost every member. Based on the feedback from our units, we decided to take up these two issues to kick-start another agitation,” said Hannan Mollah, politburo member of the CPI(M).

The party members expect the two highly popular issues for the Opposition parties may also help the party garner support among the non-NDA parties, especially in the upcoming monsoon session of Parliament. The street protests will end on July 17, just a day before the Parliament session begins.

“These are issues related to common people. We would definitely like to see other parties also supporting our voice,” said a central committee member.

While the CPI(M), a national party with limited presence in several states, will be focusing more in West Bengal, Kerala and Tripura, it has also firmed up plans for northern states. In Rajasthan, the party will hold a rally, while it will rope in CPI(ML) and other parties to stage protests in Bihar.

Despite entering into an election alliance with the Congress in West Bengal, the CPI(M) wants to test the waters with only Leftist parties in the state. “Let us also see how far we can mobilise our own cadres,” said a leader.

Top leaders of the party like general secretary Sitaram Yechury and former chief Prakash Karat will fan out in different states to lead the protests.