CPM wants six more issues in draft agenda

The Communist party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) is likely to press for the inclusion of at least six more issues in the Common Minimum Programme (CMP), including the Women's Reservation Bill and the status of non-Navaratna companies.

In its deliberations over the CMP, the CPI(M) has also zeroed in on issues regarding employment generation, disinvestment, public distribution system, labour law reforms and a bill for the agriculture and unorganised sector workers.

"Though we broadly agree with the contents of the CMP, there is a need for further deliberations so as to make it really a mutually acceptable one," sources said.

The full 16-member Politburo will meet in Kolkata on Tuesday to hold detailed discussions on the CMP, besides deciding on whether to accept the Congress offer to make senior leader Somnath Chatterjee the Lok Sabha Speaker.

Politburo member of the CPI(M), Sitaram Yechury, speaking to reporters, said , "People ask us you are supporting the government from outside, when will you withdraw support? Our clear answer to this is: If this government runs according to the CMP, we will withdraw support only during the next general elections, which is after five years."

CPI(M) leader Harkishen Singh Surjeet has played a significant role in the drafting of the CMP, though the party itself has decided to stay out of the government, while extending support to it.

Party workers said the outcome of the Politburo meeting in Kolkata will spell the difference between the demands of the party and the draft prepared by the Congress.

Surjeet said the views of the Left on the CMP would be put down in black and white and sent to Congress for finalisation.

On the contentious issue of disinvestment, the party wants clear explainations on the status of second rung PSUs like profit-making small and medium enterprises and loss-making and potentially loss-making public firms.

The CMP makes it clear that there will be no disinvestment of companies like Bharat Heavy Eelectricals Ltd, Oil and Natural Gas Corporation, Hindustan Petroleum and Bharat Petroleum.

The party alleges that the previous government perpetuated anti-labour policies like contract labour and the fixed term employment (contractual employment).

They argue that the CMP must give priority to "undo" these anti-labour policies. It is understood that the party is keen on bringing in a Workers' Participation in Management Bill in an effort to represent workers on companies' boards.

Meanwhile, the party also deferred the decision on accepting the post of the Lok Sabha Speaker offered by the Congress to veteran party leader Somnath Chatterjee. It will now be decided on May 26.

A section of the CPI(M) leadership is opposed the party taking up the Speaker's position saying it will amount to the same as joining government.