16 Left parties to hold convention against communalism

KOLKATA: In a bid to counter communalism, 16 Left parties in West Bengal led by CPI(M) will hold a convention here tomorrow and attempt to forge "a greater unity" among them.

"We will be organising a convention against the communalism in north Kolkata on November 13. All the 16 Left parties will be present there," West Bengal Left Front chairman and state CPI(M) secretary Biman Bose said yesterday.

A meeting was held between the 10 constituents of the Left Front in West Bengal, led by CPI-M and seven other Left parties SUCI(C), CPI(ML), CPI(ML-Liberation), CPI(ML-Santosh Rana), CRLI and Party of Democratic Socialism.

"The convention will not only help in forging a greater Left unity in the state and country, but will also unify the Left in fighting off the communal and neo liberal forces. We will also adopt a resolution from that convention," a leader of Forward Bloc, one of the Left constituents, said.

Last month, CPI(M) General Secretary Prakash Karat had held a meeting with SUCI(C) leader Prabhash Ghosh during a visit last month and had said efforts were on to bring major Left parties and groups together to strengthen Left unity.