New Delhi | The CPI(Marxist) on Tuesday called for greater cohesion among the INDIA bloc constituents, asserting opposition parties must place the larger political battle against the BJP above their differences.
The party also reiterated its support for students' agitation for the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over the alleged NEET paper leak.
The CPI(M) Central Committee expressed its concern over the deteriorating health of activist Sonam Wangchuk, who has been on a hunger strike at Jantar Mantar for 17 days.
Party MPs may also join the demonstration, it said.
Addressing a press conference after the Central Committee meeting, party general secretary MA Baby said the BJP's growing political influence requires secular, democratic and progressive parties to strengthen opposition unity.
"We all can see how the BJP is spreading its tentacles in different parts of the country. We need secular, democratic, progressive political parties committed to the struggle against the BJP," Baby said.
The party leader rued the lack of a "uniform approach" among the opposition parties and the tendency of some of them to give importance to their disagreements.
"The CPI(M) is of the firm opinion that notwithstanding the differences that various opposition parties are having among them, they should give predominant importance to the fight against the BJP and their allies," he said.
Baby acknowledged that forging such unity was not easy.
"There are many hurdles and difficulties. Every political party in the opposition should be responsible and responsive to such matters. But unfortunately, various political parties are not attaching political and ideological importance to this task," he said.
Asked whether the CPI(M) would accept Rahul Gandhi as the leader of the INDIA bloc, Baby said no such position existed.
"There is no leader elected in the INDIA bloc. Rahul Gandhi is the leader of the single largest party in the INDIA bloc and the Leader of the Opposition. At one point, Mallikarjun Kharge was elected chairman. For cooperation and opposition unity, there has to be maturity from the leadership of all opposition parties. That maturity is found wanting in the case of certain leaders and certain parties," he said.
On the students' agitation underway at Jantar Mantar, Baby said the Central Committee has decided to extend its support to the protest and the July 20 march to Parliament.
"The students are on a warpath," he said, as he announced support to the agitators and their march.
On whether their issue would be raised during the Monsoon session, Baby said any strategy for it has to be decided by the opposition floor leaders.
"What opposition parties will do on the floor of the House will be discussed by the floor leaders on the sidelines of the first sitting of Parliament. This matter, we are raising -- resignation of Dharmendra Pradhan. How this has to be raised on the floor of the House, floor leaders will discuss and take a decision," he said.
Expressing concern over Wangchuk's deteriorating health, the CPI(M), in a statement, alleged that the BJP-led government's refusal to address the agitators' demands reflects its "authoritarian and anti-youth character."
The party in its Central Committee meeting, held from July 11 to July 13, also decided to launch nationwide campaigns on electoral reforms, implementation of women's reservation in legislatures and against what it termed US imperialism.
It extended support to protests of central trade unions and the Samyukta Kisan Morcha, as well as a "Jail Bharo" agitation on August 10.
The communique criticised the Centre over the state of the economy, the proposed amendments to the National Food Security Act, alleged misuse of institutions in matters relating to citizenship and the electoral roll revision exercise.
It opposed the reported anti-radicalisation SOP in Gujarat, alleging that it enabled communal profiling and targeted dissent.
The party also accused the BJP of waging "Operation Lotus" to engineer defections in opposition parties.