Chennai: The 24th Congress of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) got underway at Madurai on Wednesday with party convenor Prakash Karat inaugurating the conference at a venue named ‘Sitaram Yechury Nagar’ in memory of the late Marxist leader.

Karat declared that the Left alone had the wherewithal and conviction to fight and counter, what he described as “Hindutva neo-fascism”. The communists, alone, he felt can lead the fight against “imperialist designs” on the country though the party strived for “broadest mobilisation” of all “secular” forces against the BJP. The Left, be believed, was the only consistent force, firmly and uncompromisingly, fighting against all manifestations of Hindutva and “majoritarian communalism”.

The party Congress, which is being held in Madurai for the third time,

Mr. Karat made it clear that while the party strived for the broadest mobilisation of all secular forces against the BJP, it must be borne in mind that that the Left alone was the consistent force and firmly and uncompromisingly could fight all manifestations of Hindutva and majoritarian communalism because of the Left’s uncompromising stand on neo-liberal policies.

At the same time, Karat said though the party and the Left had been conducting many struggles, the masses would be politicised only if there was a vigorous campaign among them “against the reactionary and divisive Hindutva communalism.” The party congress would go on till April 6.