CPI (M) General Secretary M.A. Baby has written to Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge seeking clarification on the allegations made by Congress leaders. File photo
| Photo Credit: PTI
Days before a meeting of Indian National Developmental, Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) bloc on Monday (June 8, 2026), Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) general secretary M.A. Baby has written to Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge seeking clarification on the allegations made by Congress leaders that the CPI(M) had an understanding with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) during the Kerala Assembly election campaign. Mr. Baby, according to sources, also circulated the letter to other INDIA bloc constituents, in which he criticised the Congress’s “sustained campaign against the CPI(M) in Kerala”.He argued that accusations repeatedly levelled by senior Congress leaders, including Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and Mr. Kharge, went beyond electoral rivalry and impacted the foundation of the Opposition alliance formed to jointly challenge the BJP.Referring to the Congress campaign in Kerala, Mr. Baby said the party had conducted a “systematic campaign” to allege that the Left and the BJP had entered into a political arrangement, and former Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan enjoyed a special understanding with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.Such allegations, Mr. Baby said, were incompatible with the spirit of cooperation underpinning the INDIA bloc.The CPI(M) general secretary said the INDIA bloc was formed as a broad platform to take on the BJP politically, and brought together parties that remained electoral rivals in several States despite ideological differences.The CPI(M), he said, had consistently worked to strengthen Opposition unity since the alliance’s formation in 2023. Questioning the Congress’s stand, he said the party could not simultaneously partner with the CPI(M) at the national level while accusing it of colluding with the BJP in Kerala.Such charges could not be treated lightly, Mr. Baby added.Warning that the issue had implications for Opposition unity, Mr. Baby said the Congress leadership must “clear the air” on what he termed “disruptive moves” before the June 8 INDIA bloc meeting.“Unless these matters are clarified, the very purpose of the INDIA bloc would be in question,” he said.CPI(M) alleges Congress-BJP nexus over ED action in KeralaThe CPI(M) leader, however, reiterated his party’s commitment to Opposition coordination. The party would continue to work with INDIA bloc partners and other Opposition parties in Parliament to resist what he described as the Modi government’s “authoritarian, communal and anti-people policies”.Senior leaders of INDIA bloc parties are scheduled to meet in New Delhi on Monday to discuss their strategy against the BJP-led government and review efforts to strengthen Opposition unityTrinamool 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) have already announced that they would not be attending meeting, calling Congress’ decision to tie-up with Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) a “betrayal”. Published - June 06, 2026 06:47 pm IST
