CPI(M) Calls Delhi March on March 24 Against Labour, Trade Policies

The Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPI(M)) has announced a nationwide mobilisation culminating in a massive “Delhi March” on March 24 to protest what it describes as the anti-people policies of the NDA government. CPI(M) General Secretary M.A. Baby said the protest will focus on opposition to the new labour codes , proposed changes to the MGNREGA employment guarantee scheme , and trade agreements that the party believes threaten workers’ rights and domestic livelihoods. The march comes amid growing labour and farmer unrest across the country, with trade unions and farmer groups recently organising nationwide protests against economic reforms perceived as pro-corporate and detrimental to social security protections.

Ahead of the march, CPI(M) plans state-level programmes and mobilisation drives across northern states to bring together workers, farmers, youth, and civil society groups. These campaigns will highlight livelihood distress, unemployment concerns, rising living costs, and widening economic inequality, which the party argues have intensified in recent years. Baby also criticised India’s evolving trade and energy policies, questioning whether the country retains full autonomy in deciding from whom to purchase crude oil. He urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to clarify India’s position, alleging that international pressures and geopolitical alignments are weakening the country’s economic sovereignty and policy independence.

Referring to past global developments, Baby alleged that external influence has affected India’s energy procurement decisions and warned that dependence on global pressures could undermine national self-reliance. He also expressed concerns that emerging trade arrangements may expose small farmers, MSMEs, and domestic industries to unequal competition while limiting policy flexibility. The CPI(M) said the march will foreground the concerns of workers, farmers, and informal sector labourers, particularly amid continuing opposition from trade unions that argue the four labour codes dilute worker protections and weaken collective bargaining rights.

Speaking to media representatives in Hyderabad, Baby expressed confidence that Kerala’s ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF) will return to power for a third consecutive term in the upcoming Assembly elections, describing the recent setback in local body polls as temporary. Drawing an analogy from football, he noted that Argentina lost its opening match in the FIFA World Cup before going on to win the championship, adding that the LDF’s minor setback would not prevent its eventual victory. He also referred to remarks by senior Congress leader Mani Shankar Aiyar , who suggested that the LDF under Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan could return to power, stating that such comments reflect broader political sentiment in Kerala. The remarks come in the backdrop of the December 2025 local body elections, where the BJP captured the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation and the opposition UDF improved its performance.

Baby also urged Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy not to implement the Centre’s new labour codes in the state and suggested that Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah take a similar stand. He argued that state governments have a responsibility to protect workers’ rights and ensure that labour reforms do not weaken social security and employment protections.