Bihar: Ahead of Party Congress, CPI(ML) Calls for Opposition Unity to Oust Modi-led BJP Govt

Patna: The Communist Party of India (Marxist-Lenninist Liberation) [CPI(ML)] on Wednesday called for opposition unity to defeat the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the 2024 general elections and urged people for support to get rid of the Narendra Modi government that is “pro Adani-Ambani and anti-people.”

Addressing a huge Loktantra Bachao-Desh Bachao rally" (Save Democracy, Save Country rally) at Gandhi Maidan in Patna ahead of the five-day all-India party congress of CPI-ML from February 16, party general secretary Dipankar Bhattacharya said: “Opposition unity is a must to defeat BJP and oust Modi government from power. There is an urgent need of a united opposition to provide a viable platform for the people in next Lok Sabha polls. The Opposition, including Left parties and all non-BJP parties, have to come together and show their strength and capacity to end fascist rule in the country.”

Bhattacharya said BJP and Modi have been using these issues to neglect the poor working class, distress farmers and the lower middle class.

He said that PM candidate or face is not an issue for the Opposition, this is an issue of BJP. “Opposition has several faces for the PM candidate. It will be decided at the right time. Our main agenda is opposition unity to ensure the defeat of BJP”

Bhattacharya attacked the Modi government’s policies that are “only helping Adani-Ambani” while the poor people have been neglected and left to struggle.

The CPI(ML) leader praised Congress leader Rahul Gandhi for his Bharat Jodo Yatra and said it was a positive sign for Opposition unity.

Thousands of people, including a large number of women, mostly the poorest of the poor from rural areas, attended the rally.

Bhattacharya said CPI-ML would join hands with Left and democratic forces to raise fundamental issues of unemployment, growing price rise, economic inequality and increasing disparity to intensify the fight against the policies of BJP-led Central government .

"Common people across the country are unhappy and angry with the Modi government. This is reflected from time to time as farmers, workers, students, jobless youths and women take to the streets to protest and express their opposition to pro-corporate policies”, he said.

Several top CPI(ML) leaders claimed that democracy was “in danger” as the Modi government was doing everything to weaken the basic institutions and was eyeing to finish the Constitution, the main source of people’s strength.

They warned the people that “fascist forces are getting all kinds of help to suppress people's rights and they are working to divide people on religious lines by spreading hate like never before.”

The CPI-ML has three legislators in the Bihar Assembly and enjoys support in certain rural pockets in the state. About 20 years ago, in 2002, the CPI(ML) held its 7th all India Party Congress in Patna.

As per the leaders, the Left party has made elaborate arrangements to make its five-day 11th all-India party congress a grand success. The party has decided to hold the Congress for the second time in Patna, and it is scheduled to take place at the S K Memorial Hall.

The CPI(ML) 's high-level meeting in Patna is set to discuss the organisational agenda; the party will also chalk out a political agenda for the next five years. This party congress assumes significance given the party's outside support to the Mahagathbandhan government led by Nitish Kumar and the Lok Sabha elections in 2024, followed by Bihar Assembly polls in 2025.

A senior CPI(ML) leader recalled that after the party came overground during the early 1990s, it organised its first open Congress at Kolkata in 1992. During the period when the [arty had to be underground, two congresses were held in the interiors of Khamara village in Giridih (now in Jharkhand) and Gaya districts (1976 and 1982).

The CPI(ML), which has 12 sitting MLAs in the state Assembly, is part of the ruling Mahagathbandhan, along with the CPI(M) and CPI, RJD, JD-U and HAM.