The Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist) on Thursday called for "an alliance of communists, socialists and Dalit outfits" in the upcoming Lok Sabha polls to defeat the BJP-led NDA.
CPI(ML) Liberation general secretary Deepankar Bhattacharya gave the call at a rally here which was attended by leaders of other Left parties such as the CPI and the CPI(M) besides the RJD and the Loktantrik Janata Dal.
The Congress was not invited to attend the rally.
Bhattacharya flayed the Narendra Modi government for the soaring prices of petroleum and the crisis faced by banking sector because of non-performing assets worth Rs 10 lakh crore on account of big defaulters like Nirav Modi and Vijay Mallya "who have been allowed to flee the country".
He also attacked the NDA government over the Rafale scam and alleged that with the BJP in power, "a conspiracy is on to do away with reservation which has been a tool of empowerment for the lower castes".
Targeting Lok Janshakti Party chief and Union minister Ram Vilas Paswan, Bhattacharya accused the Union minister of "speaking about Dalits but caring only for his own family".
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He also criticised Bihar Chief Minister and JD(U) president Nitish Kumar for returning to power by contesting elections as part of the "Mahagathbandhan" but switching over to the NDA later on.
"The country is in dire need of a credible alternative which could drive out this anti-people government from the country. An alliance of communists, socialists and Dalit groups can offer such an alternative", he remarked.
The rally was also addressed, among others, by CPI(M) state secretary Awadhesh, JNU students' union president Sai Balaji, RJD MLA Shiv Chandra Ram and former assembly Speaker Uday Narayan Chaudhary who is now with the Loktantrik Janata Dal floated by Sharad Yadav.
"Many policies of the Congress governments are responsible for the condition in which we find the country today," Bhattacharya told reporters when asked about the reason for leaving out the Congress.
He, however, said "We are at present not thinking in terms of elections but highlighting the need for a social movement comprising followers of various ideologies who could come together and pose a credible challenge to the BJP".
When contacted, Bihar Congress president Madan Mohan Jha said "Our alliance is with the RJD of Lalu Prasad and HAM of Jitan Ram Manjhi. We have no alliance with the Left. We have no problem if we are not invited to a rally attended by some leaders of our alliance partners. The Mahagathbandhan is firmly intact.