Chennai, July 22:
The Communist Party of India, Communist Party of India (Marxist) and Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist) Liberation on Monday resolved to release a joint policy declaration proposing an alternative political and economic agenda for Tamil Nadu, alongside a State-wide rally in September to strengthen Left unity.
Announcing the decision after a meeting of the parties’ state-level coordination committee, CPM State Secretary P Shanmugam said a draft of the declaration had already been prepared and would be finalised at the next meeting on August 4 at the CPM state office. He added that district-level coordination committees would be set up across the State to expand the organisational base of the Left.
The proposed September mobilisation aims to build public pressure on both the Union and State governments to address key issues highlighted in the declaration. The date and venue of the rally will be announced after the August 4 meeting.
CPI(ML) State Secretary Asaithambi said the initiative was focused on restoring the political relevance of Left movements, arguing that transformative change in India had historically been driven by mass mobilisation rather than legislative action alone. He stressed that while Parliament and State Assemblies remain vital democratic institutions, several pressing concerns of ordinary citizens were not receiving adequate attention.
Among the issues flagged were agrarian distress in the Cauvery Delta, unemployment among youth, nutritional challenges faced by women, and the precarious condition of agricultural labourers—areas the Left parties plan to address through sustained campaigns.
CPI State Secretary M Veerapandian called for easing public access to the State Secretariat, arguing that it represents the authority of the people and should allow citizens to meet ministers and officials without excessive procedural hurdles.
Shanmugam also condemned police action against protesters in New Delhi demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over alleged irregularities in national entrance examinations, and urged the Union government to remove him from office.