Lal Nishan Party to merge with CPI

The Lal Nishan Party (LNP) today announced that it would merge with its parent outfit Communist Party of India (CPI) this month.
LNP general secretary Milind Ranade made this announcement at a press conference here in the presence of state CPI leaders.
After a split in the CPI, the LNP as a political outfit was formed in 1964.
"The factors that had led to the split in the CPI in 1964, have now lost their relevance as the international and national contexts have changed. It is important to keep the unity of among all the democratic forces to fight against fascism," he said.

The merger formality will be officially completed on August 18 in the presence of the national leadership of the CPI, Ranade said.
"After the merger, we will be in a better position to fight against the BJP-led government, which is nothing but an extension of RSS. We need to fight against it unitedly," Ranade said.

He added that the decision to rejoin the CPI is a "well-thought out" plan.
The LNP, as an splinter group, never fought any election and never got the status of the registered and recognised party by the Election Commission.
"However, we have a presence in almost each districts of Maharashtra and have a dedicated pool of workers with credible credentials," said Ranade.

Dr Bhalchandra Kango, state secretary of CPI, who was present on the occasion, welcomed the move.
"We appeal to everyone that they take a step forward in this direction and build one single communist party to defend and deepen democracy and to build a socialist society," he said.
Another CPI leader, Prakash Reddy said, "The present government has been acting against the Dalits, minorities and all the marginalised classes. The sectarian and reactionary forces are causing immense harm to the social fabric.