Ahead of INDIA bloc meeting, CPI(M) asks Congress to clarify Kerala campaign allegations

CPI (M) general secretary MA Baby has written to Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge to clarify the allegations leveled by Congress leaders. Photo file | Photo credit: PTI

Days ahead of the Indian National Developmental, Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) bloc meeting on Monday (June 8, 2026), Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) general secretary MA Baby wrote to Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge to clarify allegations made by leaders that the CPI(M) had an understanding during the BharatiyaPta (Keratiya Jana) Congress election campaign.

According to sources, Mr. Baby also circulated a letter to other members of the INDIA bloc criticizing “the Congress’s sustained campaign against the CPI(M) in Kerala”.

He argued that the allegations repeatedly leveled by senior Congress leaders, including Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and Mr Kharge, went beyond electoral rivalry and influenced the formation of an opposition alliance formed to jointly challenge the BJP.

Referring to the Congress campaign in Kerala, Mr Baby said the party had waged a “systematic campaign” to claim that the Left and the BJP had entered into a political alignment, with former chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan enjoying a special understanding with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Such allegations, Mr. Baby said, are incompatible with the spirit of cooperation on which the INDIA bloc stands.

The CPI(M) general secretary said the INDIA Bloc was created as a broad platform to take on the BJP politically and bring together parties that remained electoral rivals in several states despite ideological differences.

The CPI(M), he said, has consistently worked to strengthen opposition unity since forming the alliance in 2023. Questioning the Congress’ stand, he said the party cannot simultaneously work with the CPI(M) at the national level while accusing it of colluding with the BJP in Kerala.

Such charges cannot be taken lightly, Mr Baby added.

Mr Baby warned that the matter had implications for opposition unity and said the Congress leadership needed to “clear the air” over what he called “disruptive steps” ahead of the INDIA bloc meeting on June 8.

“Unless these matters are clarified, the very purpose of the INDIA bloc will be called into question,” he said.

CPI(M) claims Congress-BJP collusion with ED action in Kerala

However, the CPI(M) leader reiterated his party’s commitment to coordinate the opposition. The party will continue to work with its INDIA bloc partners and other opposition parties in Parliament to resist what it called the Modi government’s “authoritarian, communal and anti-people policies”.

Senior leaders of INDIA bloc parties are set to meet in Delhi on Monday to discuss their strategy against the BJP-led government and review efforts to strengthen opposition unity.

Trinamool Congress (TMC) chief Mamata Banerjee, TMC general secretary Abhishek Banerjee, Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray, Samajwadi Party (SP) president Akhilesh Yadav, Mr Gandhi and Mr Kharge are expected to attend.

The Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) has already announced that it will not attend the meeting, calling the Congress’ decision to tie up with the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) a “betrayal”.

Published – June 6, 2026 6:47 PM IST