Left

Left parties set to increase number of seats, no major rise in vote share

Embroiled in an existential battle, the Left parties improved their performance marginally in the 2024 general election as they were heading towards victory on at least eight seats on Tuesday, even as their vote share did not increase significantly. The Left parties were at their lowest in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, when only three MPs from the Communist Party of India (Marxist) and two from the Communist Party of India could win their seats. Of those five seats, four -- two each of the CPI(M) and the CPI -- were in Tamil Nadu, while the CPI(M) also won a seat in Kerala. The CPI(M), which fielded 52 candidates this time, was leading with comfortable margins on four seats, while a close contest was being witnessed on one seat in Kerala. Both the CPI and the CPI(ML) Liberation appeared headed towards victory on two seats each. The CPI(M) sprung a surprise in Rajasthan, with its candidate from Sikar, Amra Ram, leading over his closest rival, Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) Sumedhanand ..

Left trying to control INDIA bloc's agenda, will not accept it: CM Mamata

Amid the internal discord within the INDIA bloc in the state over seat-sharing, TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee asserted on Monday that the Left is striving to control the opposition bloc's agenda, underscoring that no one confronts the BJP as directly as she does. Addressing an all-faith rally in the city, the TMC leader expressed her unwillingness to accept the Left Front led by CPI(M) controlling the agenda of the INDIA bloc meeting. "I suggested the name INDIA during the opposition bloc meeting. But whenever I attend the meeting, I find the Left trying to control it. This is not acceptable. I cannot agree with those with whom I had fought for 34 years," she said. Banerjee remarked, "Despite such insults, I have adjusted and attended the INDIA bloc meetings." In an apparent reference to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi being stopped in Assam from visiting the birthplace of Vaishnav saint Srimant Sankardeva, Banerjee remarked, "Just going to the temple isn't enough." She highlighted her

LDF announces cabinet reshuffle, new ministers to take oath on Dec 29

Honouring the commitment made to all coalition partners, the ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF) on Sunday announced a cabinet reshuffle and said new ministers will take oath on December 29. LDF convener E P Jayarajan told the media that Transport minister, Antony Raju of the Democratic Kerala Congress and Ports Minister Ahammad Devarkovil of the Indian National League have tendered their resignations. "Two ministers have tendered their resignations. New ministers will take oath on December 29. Their portfolios will be decided by the Chief Minister," Jayarajan told the media at a press meet here. Ramachandran Kadannappally of Congress (S) and K B Ganesh Kumar of Kerala Congress (B) will take oath as ministers for the rest of the term. When the second LDF government came to power in the state in May 2021, partners in the CPI(M)-led alliance had reached an understanding to allocate cabinet berths to four single-MLA parties on a "sharing the term" basis. The LDF then took the decision

INDIA bloc PM candidate to be decided after elections: Mamata Banerjee

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee Monday said the INDIA bloc's prime ministerial candidate will be decided after the 2024 general elections, expressing confidence that the alliance will iron out all issues including over seat-sharing and defeat the BJP. She also dismissed suggestions that the alliance has lost time in putting things in order, saying "it is better late than never". She expressed confidence that a three-way alliance is very much possible in West Bengal between her TMC, Congress and the Left. "The BJP is not strong, we are weak. We need to work together to overcome it," Banerjee told reporters here in reply to a question on the BJP's rising influence, especially in the Hindi belt. She also said she doesn't discriminate between the Hindi belt and other regions. On the suspension on opposition MPs in Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, Banerjee said it shows the BJP is afraid. "Do you think they (the BJP) became so arrogant because they won two states...They're afraid s

Developed Kerala possible without Left, Cong: Chandrasekhar slams Vijayan

"That is not what the Kerala Malayali youth want - The future of Kerala is a Developed, Prosperous Kerala possible only without Left or its Corrupt INDI ally Congress," he added

Spain parl holds crucial vote that could pave way for another leftist govt

Spain's newly elected Parliament meets on Thursday to choose the chamber's speaker and presiding council, a normally routine vote but which this time will be read as a bellwether of a future government. Inconclusive national elections on July 23 left no party with an easy path to cobble together the support needed to lead a government. Parties on the left and right of the spectrum are delicately poised in the fight for power. Acting Prime Minister Pedro Snchez appears to have a slight edge over his conservative and rightwing rivals, but nothing is guaranteed and a new election in the coming months is still a real possibility. Thursday's council vote by the 350 new lawmakers could therefore indicate whether Snchez's Socialists are making headway in building support among smaller parties. These include separatist parties in Catalonia that appear likely to decide both the speaker's vote and the future session to elect a prime minister. Snchez's Socialists, the left-wing Sumar (Joini

WB panchayat polls: 3 Left-Congress supporters shot at in North Dinajpur

Three persons were shot at in West Bengal's North Dinajpur district on Thursday when they were on their way to file nominations for the panchayat polls, officials said. The CPI(M) claimed that the three injured persons were supporters of the Left Front and the Congress, who were shot at when they were going to the Chopra Block office for filing nominations. The three injured persons were admitted to the district hospital, an official said. "There persons were injured and one of them is critical. We cannot confirm any death," the official told PTI. State Election Commissioner (SEC) Rajiva Sinha declined to comment on the incident, saying that he was yet to receive any report regarding it. CPI(M) state secretary Md Salim alleged that the TMC was behind the attack. "Activists and candidates have been fired upon by TMC goons just now in North Dinajpur's Chopra block. Left-INC supporters were going to Block office for filing nomination #PanchayatElection2023," he tweeted. The ruling

Three arrested in connection with attack on Left, Congress MPs in Tripura

Three people were arrested in connection with the attack on a parliamentary delegation of the Left and the Congress in Tripura's Sepahijala district, police said on Saturday. The delegation, comprising Left and Congress MPs, was attacked in Nehalchandranagar, a border village of Bishalgarh subdivision, on Friday when it was visiting areas affected by post-poll violence. "Three persons have been arrested so far, and steps are being taken to apprehend the others involved in the attack. An FIR has been filed in connection with the incident," a senior police officer told PTI. Security forces have been deployed in the area, he said, adding that senior officers were overseeing the situation. "Chief Minister Manik Saha, who is currently in Delhi, spoke to DGP Amitabh Ranjan, and asked him to arrest all the accused persons, irrespective of their political colours," another official said. The CPI(M) said that the joint team of the Left and the Congress were visiting various violence-hit ar

KC Venugopal condemns attack on INC-Left front delegation in Tripura

Accusing the police of being a mute spectator, Congress General Secretary and Rajya Sabha MP KC Venugopal on Friday strongly condemned the attack on the INC-Left front delegation visiting violence-hit areas of Tripura."Strongly condemn the attack on the INC-Left front delegation visiting violence-hit areas of Tripura, with the police being a mute spectator. We will never be intimidated by the BJP goons, and will stand up against their undemocratic & cowardly behaviour at every instance," Venugopal tweeted.Congress leader also shared the purported attack of the video along with the tweet.Earlier on Friday, the joint team of Congress and Left Front MPs who were on a visit to Bishalgarh to meet affected families of post-poll violence were allegedly attacked by a mob."A delegation of Congress leaders was attacked by BJP goons today in Bishalgarh & Mohanpur in Tripura. Police accompanying the delegation did NOTHING. And tomorrow BJP is having a victory rally there. Victory of ..

An illusion that divides

Every debate is recast in left vs right terms in the urban mindscape, but it is hard to tell one from the other

Left protest march against Kerala Guv creating anarchy in state: Congress

The Congress on Tuesday criticised the LDF move to carry out a march to the Raj Bhavan here in protest against Kerala Governor Arif Mohammed Khan's actions regarding universities and bills passed by the state legislature, saying it is creating "anarchy" in the state. AICC general secretary K C Venugopal said the government appointed Vice-Chancellors in universities in the state in violation of norms and "now to change that situation, they are carrying out a protest march against the Governor." "It is creating anarchy in the state," he said, while speaking to the media in New Delhi. The senior Congress leader claimed that the state government was responsible for the actions of the Governor and said both were acting in furtherance of their established interests. Venugopal also claimed that Khan too was equally responsible as he forgot his Constitutional position and allegedly carried out "publicity stunts." Meanwhile, the LDF went forward with its planned protest march, which saw a

Chileans reject new constitution in blow to leftist leader Gabriel Boric

With 99% of the ballots counted, 62% voted against the proposed charter drawn up over the past year by a popularly-elected convention, compared with just 38% for its approval

Left parties call nationwide protest against price rise from May 25-31

Left parties have called a nationwide protest against the rising prices of essential commodities and unemployment from May 25-31. In a joint statement issued on Saturday, the Left parties directed their units across the country to coordinate this united and concerted nationwide struggle against price rise and unemployment. "Unabated galloping price rise is imposing unprecedented burdens on the people. Crores are suffering and are pushed into deeper poverty with growing hunger pangs. Coming on top of unprecedented and growing levels of unemployment, this is compounding people's miseries," the statement said. The Left parties said that over the last year the prices of petroleum products have increased by 70 per cent, vegetables by 20 per cent, cooking oil by 23 per cent and cereals by 8 per cent. "Wheat, the staple diet of crores of Indians, is seeing a price rise of over 14 per cent, making it unaffordable. Wheat procurement has declined. Central government has procured less than ..

Left parties attack govt over LIC IPO, allege 'scam', 'sell off'

Left parties on Thursday attacked the government over its move to float the LIC IPO alleging that it was a "scam" and a "sell-off".

Clash between JNU student groups over non-veg food, cops say 6 injured

The two groups, however, claimed that over 60 students were injured from both sides

Why Infosys is latest RSS target

Panchajanya attack makes Infosys first big corporate to fall victim to RSS and its affiliates hit-and-run tactics

Kerala Assembly elections: Welfare thrust helps left rewrite history

The state alternates between UDF and LDF even when governments perform reasonably well. Except in 1977, no ruling front has been re-elected

Poriborton without change

Mamata faces off against former disciple-turned-defector Adhikari in a very different contest in Nandigram. It's not land acquisition but an ego clash that has acquired, tragically, communal overtones

Mamata Banerjee betrayed the people of Bengal, says PM Narendra Modi

He also accused her of nepotism by choosing to play the limited role of bua (aunt) to her bhatija (nephew) instead of becoming Didi (elder sister) to the people

West Bengal Assembly polls: Mamata releases TMC list for 291 seats

CM will contest from Nandigram; state FM dropped