Yechury: CPI-M to work to bring together ‘secular democratic’ parties

New Delhi: Communist Party of India-Marxist leader Sitaram Yechury on Friday said his party will work towards bringing together secular democratic parties, and said state level alliances will emerge ahead of the 2024 General Elections.
Asked about the Bharat Jodo Yatra of Congress, the CPI-M General Secretary said it was their prerogative to decide how many days they will spend in which state, days after the party attacked Congress for spending 12 days in LDF ruled Kerala compared to two days in BJP ruled Uttar Pradesh in their foot march.
“The Polit Bureau decided that the Party will work to develop its independent strength, strengthen Left unity and forge unity of Left and Democratic forces. The CPI-M shall join the efforts to bring together secular democratic parties in defence of the Indian Constitution; democracy; democratic rights and civil liberties of the people and safeguarding the secular democratic character of the Indian republic,” a statement said.
Addressing a press conference, Yechury said, “After the developments in Bihar, there are activities among the Opposition parties to bring together some sort of a broader coming together of secular democratic parties… to take on the challenge today to safeguard Indian constitution, democratic rights and India’s economic sovereignty.”
“This process has got new momentum and the polit-bureau decided we will make all efforts and join the larger, broadest possible mobilization of secular forces against Hindutva, communalism and Hindutva agenda,” he said.
He said the process will continue and take concrete form in different states, and cited the example of Tamil Nadu. He said they in strong secular forces will lead the way in different states.
Asked about Kerala, where the Bharat Jodo Yatra of Congress is currently passing and the CPI-M attacked it questioning if it is “Bharat Jodo or Seat Jodo?”, Yechury said it was Congress’ prerogative to decide where they wanted to go.
“In a democracy, every party has the right to go to the people. If someone is going to the people, it is good. We are doing it our way…” he said.
“The AAP is doing it in their own way on some other issue, It is the legitimate right of any party to go to people, there is no harm. it is their prerogative to decide how many days they spend where. But the fact that they are spending how many days where, which is generally known, people will themselves draw conclusions,” he said.
Several CPI-M leaders questioned the duration of the Congress’ march in Kerala, and the party had tweeted, “18 days in Kerala and 2 days in UP. Strange Way to Fight BJP-RSS”.
Congress leader Jairam Ramesh, reacting to the CPI-M tweet, had called the CPI-M “the A team of BJP” in Kerala.
“Kerala is the only place where BJP has zero MLAs, who did that. Look at what is happening in Goa, you will get to know who the A and B team are,” Yechury said.
For West Bengal, Yechury said the ‘secular democratic forces’ will not ally with Mamata Banerjee’s Trinamool Congress, adding that the support for Left parties has increased in the state.
“There is a political polarization happening in West Bengal. CPI-M and Left parties are getting more support. Our politics is about organizing people, we don’t have explosive politics,” he said.
He also questioned why the ED or the CBI did not investigate the matters against TMC leaders earlier, and said it “made things clear”.
“Why were the CBI and ED quiet in Bengal for all these years? They had this evidence for a long time. They did not do anything for so many years, what does it mean? Many secrets will come out… BJP has its own schemes. The kind of governance that was there in TMC rule has been exposed,” he said. (UNI)