As the Election Commission announced dates for Bihar polls, the CPI(M)’s Central Committee today discussed ways to keep the so-called secular vote together. The party believes the polls will be fought essentially between the NDA and the secular forces. “We want to ensure that a secular front is built,” said Sitaram Yechury. Based on the political resolution adopted by the politburo on Friday, the central committee identified signs of weakness not only in the BJP but also its allies which were trying to break away from it, Yechury said. As a result, the NDA could not play an effective opposition and it was up to the Left to take the initiative, especially on economic issues, he added. From details of the discussions provided by Yechury, it was evident that the party was taking its role of checking the government’s “anti-people” policies seriously. For instance, the build-up to the industrial strike of September 29 would be provided through protests on food, water and jobs. On fuel price hike, the party was for tax rationalisation. Taking Delhi as an example, he said the tax component of the retail price was 57 per cent, adding the party would “put pressure on the government.” The “larger issues” that the committee took up, he said, included the common minimum programme. The government had collected education cess and the party wanted to know how it would be utilised. He said the party wanted spending on public health to be doubled and investment in agriculture to be hiked.
