The party announces nationwide campaigns on electoral rights, fuel price hike, labour codes and economic distress
NEW DELHI — Mounting a sweeping political offensive against the BJP-led Union government, the Communist Party of India – Marxist (CPI-M) on Monday accused the ruling dispensation of deepening economic distress, undermining democratic institutions, fuelling communal polarisation and suppressing dissent, It also called for a united struggle of secular and progressive forces against what it described as the “RSS-BJP’s authoritarian and Hindutva-corporate agenda.”
The left party announced that it would launch nationwide campaigns during the upcoming Parliament session on women’s reservation, protection of voting rights and opposition to the newly operationalised labour codes.
The sharp attack came in a communiqué issued after the three-day meeting of the CPI-M Central Committee held from May 22 to 24. The meeting reviewed the recent assembly election results, assessed the growing influence of right-wing politics and outlined an extensive nationwide campaign on issues ranging from unemployment and rising fuel prices to electoral reforms, labour rights and alleged attacks on minorities and democratic freedoms.
The party acknowledged electoral setbacks in several states and announced comprehensive internal reviews in Kerala, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu and Assam. In Kerala, the state committee will hold detailed deliberations from June 5 to 8 in Thiruvananthapuram in the presence of Polit Bureau members to identify organisational and political weaknesses and initiate corrective measures.
At the same time, the CPI-M described its return to the West Bengal Assembly as a “positive development” and thanked voters in states where the party and its allies secured support. The party also welcomed the victory of a CPI-M-backed independent candidate from Mahe in Puducherry.
Concern over Hindutva Consolidation
The Central Committee expressed serious concern over what it termed the consolidation of Hindutva forces in society and the BJP’s rise to power in West Bengal. It warned that although the BJP won only a limited number of seats in Kerala and Tamil Nadu, its expanding social reach in these states remained “a matter of deep concern” for secular and democratic forces.
Positioning itself as a key pillar of the INDIA bloc, the CPI-M criticised the Congress party’s approach towards opposition unity. It strongly condemned allegations made by some senior Congress leaders during the Kerala Assembly elections suggesting that the CPI-M had an understanding with the BJP. Calling the accusations “baseless and malicious,” the party asserted that it had consistently fought communal politics and remained committed to the INDIA alliance.
The CPI-M also welcomed the formation of the Tamilaga Vettriga Kazhagam (TVK) government in Tamil Nadu under actor-turned-politician C Joseph Vijay and expressed hope that the new dispensation would uphold constitutional values, secularism, federalism and democratic rights.
In one of its sharpest attacks, the party accused the BJP-led Union government of attempting to manipulate the proposed delimitation exercise for electoral advantage. It alleged that linking women’s reservation with delimitation was aimed at weakening the political influence of southern states, where the BJP continues to remain relatively weak. According to the CPI-M, this reflected a broader pattern of using state institutions to further the BJP’s political agenda.
Election Commission Attacked
The Central Committee also launched a blistering attack on the Election Commission of India (ECI) over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. It alleged that lakhs of voters were denied their constitutional right to vote on flimsy grounds under a category termed “logical discrepancies.” The party accused the judiciary of failing to safeguard voting rights and claimed that electoral rolls were being manipulated in favour of the ruling party.
The CPI-M further alleged that BJP governments in Bihar and West Bengal were using the SIR process to deny welfare benefits to people whose names had been deleted from voter rolls. The party described the move as an attempt to “downgrade the citizenship” of certain sections of society and vowed to launch mass protests against what it called discriminatory practices.
Economic Front
On the economic front, the CPI-M painted a grim picture of the Indian economy, citing rising unemployment, distress among MSMEs, a deepening agrarian crisis and widening inequality. It said Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent appeal for austerity measures amounted to an indirect admission of economic distress.
The party claimed that fuel prices had risen by more than Rs 7 per litre in just 11 days after the election results and accused the government of burdening ordinary citizens while failing to ensure strategic energy security. It also warned of a looming fertiliser crisis due to shortages and escalating costs ahead of the agricultural season.
The CPI-M announced plans to mobilise farmers, workers and agricultural labourers against rising prices, labour code implementation and the proposed replacement of MGNREGA with the VBGRAMG Act from July 1, 2026. The party strongly opposed the digitalisation of employment systems in rural areas with poor internet connectivity and reiterated its demand for strengthening MGNREGA rather than dismantling it.
The Central Committee also expressed solidarity with workers’ protests in Uttar Pradesh, accusing the BJP government there of suppressing labour movements through arrests and police action.
Kamla Maula Mosque Issue
On communal issues, the CPI-M criticised the recent Madhya Pradesh High Court judgment in the Bhojshala-Kamal Maula Mosque dispute, saying it violated the Places of Worship Act, 1991, and contributed to reopening historical and religious disputes that could deepen communal divisions. The party urged the judiciary to uphold constitutional secularism.
The communiqué also highlighted growing crimes against women, Dalits and Adivasis. Referring to the recent gang rape in a moving bus in Delhi, the party alleged that casteist and patriarchal attitudes had become entrenched under BJP rule, making it increasingly difficult for victims to seek justice.
The CPI-M further attacked the Centre over the NEET paper leak controversy, alleging BJP leaders’ involvement and demanding the immediate disbanding of the National Testing Agency (NTA). It called for decentralising examinations and instituting a thorough probe into repeated paper leaks. The party also criticised the CBSE’s digital evaluation process, describing it as flawed and harmful to students’ futures.
In a politically loaded remark, the party condemned the blocking of social media handles linked to the satirical “Cockroach Janata Party” and the alleged attack on its creator Abhijeet Dipke, calling it evidence of the BJP government’s intolerance towards dissent and criticism.
Internationally, the CPI-M strongly criticised the United States over its policies towards Cuba, Iran, Palestine and Venezuela. It accused Washington of escalating aggression against Cuba and announced a month-long anti-imperialist campaign in June, including seminars, protest demonstrations and public meetings across the country.
