Left politicians raise Rahul’s ‘CJP’ comments at opposition meet

NEW DELHI: Days after Congress functionary and LoP Rahul Gandhi coined the term “CJP” to deride CPM as “Communist Janata Party”, two Left leaders from Kerala complained to the INDIA bloc that such attacks can hurt cohesion within the opposition camp.

CPM MP John Brittas and CPI member Sandosh Kumar told a meeting of opposition parties that Rahul Gandhi should desist from such attacks. They are learnt to have argued that the connecting tissue between parties under the umbrella of INDIA is their anti-BJP stance and that the Left is a strong member of the alliance. Rahul was present in the meeting but did not speak on the issue.

The discussion took place during the parliamentary strategy meeting of opposition parties in the office of Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, with the attendees including Rahul Gandhi, Sanjay Raut (Shiv Sena), KC Venugopal (Congress), Shatabdi Roy (TMC), Dayanidhi Maran (DMK) and Ramgopal Yadav (SP).



After the important discussions, the Left members sought permission to raise some political issues. But Kharge is learnt to have turned down the demand, saying that such matters could be discussed between individual parties, and the gathering of opposition parties had been convened to discuss the parliamentary agenda.

While some members claimed that Brittas and Kumar were cut short, sources said they did put their point across. Though members of India bloc, the Left and Congress are direct rivals in Kerala, with the latter pushing to unseat the Pinarayi Vijayan govt in the state.

During his weekend visit to Kerala, which was packed with campaign events for the upcoming state elections, Rahul alleged that BJP and CPI(M) had reached an agreement to jointly oppose Congress. He said it was no longer CPI(M) and BJP, but CJP (Communist Janata Party). The public meeting was attended by the brass of Kerala Congress.

The barb was in line with Congress allegations that the ruling party in Kerala has a tacit understanding with BJP to stall Congress, and the allegations have got shriller since Congress’s UDF alliance swept the local body elections in Dec, which are said to be a bellwether for the assembly polls.
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