CPI(M) Party Feud

Rajya Sabha CPI member Sandosh Kumar P on Tuesday asked the finance minister to address the bank unions' genuine demands, including filling up vacant posts in public sector banks, and five-day working. Raising the issue during Zero Hour in Rajya Sabha, Kumar said the United Forum of Bank Unions, an umbrella organisation of nine unions, has called for a 48-hour bank strike on March 24-25 to press for their demands. Stressing that bank employees, especially in public sector banks, are facing a lot of problems, he said the strike is going to affect the banking sector. One of the major issues is shortage of staff in public sector banks, he said. Sandosh said there are about 2.11 lakh vacancies in banks. Lack of adequate staff is adversely affecting mental health of workers as they are overburdened. Another issue is related to five-day working for bank employees. "It was a demand from bank employees, and there is a consensus also. The bank authorities, the Indian Bank Association, als

Veteran CPI(M) leader Sitaram Yechury, 72, passes away at Delhi's Aiims

The contradiction, or rather the impracticality, of the formulation, is starker when it deals with pre-poll alliances

Yechury wants to keep door open for electoral understanding with Congress but Karat's draft has ruled out any truck with the Congress, but supports alliances with regional parties