Bardhan optimistic about unification of CPI, CPI-M

CPI General Secretary AB Bardhan said he was optimistic of merger of both major Left parties, the CPI and the CPI-M in the future.

CPI General Secretary AB Bardhan on Friday said he was optimistic of merger of both major Left parties, the CPI and the CPI-M in the future.

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"Unity or merger is a not a decision taken by one party but by both of them and I am quite sure it will happen," Bardhan told reporters in Nagpur on Friday.

However, he said he was unsure about when the merger will possibly occur.

"It takes generations for many things to happen. Freedom was achieved when Lokmanya Tilak was no more," he said.

"I am in favour of unity of all Leftists and Communists and may be (we are) one step closer to unification. But the goal is not immediate," Bardhan said.

To a query as to what is hurdle between the merger, the veteran leader, who belongs to the city, said, "It is the two parties (CPI and CPI-M)."

"But, we (CPI and CPI-M) are already in frequent consultation, working together on many national and international issues," he said.

The CPI is India's oldest Communist party in the country, while the CPI(M) was found in 1964.