Kanam Rajendran agrees to Rahul Gandhi's call

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: CPI state secretary Kanam Rajendran on Thursday said nobody can differ with Congress president-elect Rahul Gandhi's statement that fascist forces have to be fought together. He said the question of fighting fascist forces need not be addressed only to the Left parties. "It is also the responsibility of the Congress to ask the same question to itself.  Has the party been able to fight the fascist forces robustly and stand up to their challenge," the CPI leader asked.

Earlier, in his speech Mr Gandhi seem to have deliberately named CPM to suggest that the Marxists were causing obstacle in bringing up a wider front of left, democratic and secular parties including Congress. His statement also sought to differentiate other left parties from the CPM when it came to joining hands to fight the fascist forces. This was also evident from the carefully worded questions directed at the CPM. "I want to ask my friends in the CPM whether they actually want to fight the fascist forces in the country. Do they accept the fact that the biggest danger to this country comes from the fascist ideas being spread by the BJP? 

Interestingly, the Congress president elect's statement that the CPM should make its position clear at the national level comes close on the heels of the party politburo discussing informal adjustments at local and regional level. Rahul who appears to be keen on a national alliance rather than local level adjustments with Left parties, went to the extent of saying that those who don't stand up against the BJP were actually supporting the Sangh Parivar.

Sources said though the CPI is in favour of joining hands with the Congress, it is not optimistic of a united opposition against BJP before 2019 Lok Sabha polls. However, the party is hopeful of some kind of understanding at the national and regional level to defeat the communal and fascist forces. While the Left parties know that the Congress with its  pan India presence is still the biggest opposition party  and has a crucial role to play, they say it is yet to effectively adopt a zero tolerance policy towards the fascist forces.  Observers say the public appeal made by Rahul Gandhi who is set to take over as Congress president on Saturday, also indicated his eagerness to prop up unified opposition ahead of crucial 2019 polls.