The 26^th State Conference of the Communist Party of India (CPI) demanded that the Tamil Nadu government release the State’s Labour Policy. The four-day conference, which began on August 15 in Salem, concluded with a rally and public meeting on Monday evening.

During the conference, the CPI passed several resolutions. One of the key resolutions criticised the Centre for consolidating 44 labour welfare laws into four labour codes, against which workers across the country have been protesting.

Anti-labour provisions

The resolution stated that the anti-labour provisions in these codes were being gradually implemented in Tamil Nadu. The CPI highlighted the lack of job regularisation in the State, noting that workers were increasingly being recruited through outsourcing in government and government-related sectors. These workers face job insecurity and receive no monetary benefits upon exit. The resolution pointed out that over 3 crore workers in the State earn around ₹12,000 as salary, and that implementing such policies under pressure from big corporates and the Centre contradicts the ideals of the “Dravidian model” of governance.

The CPI urged the State government to form an expert committee and, based on its recommendations, release the Tamil Nadu Labour Policy — similar to the release of the State Education Policy and Industrial Policy — to ensure a dignified life for workers.

The party also demanded that the State government refrain from outsourcing local body work to private entities; fix minimum wages for workers in government-related sectors; ensure the safety of inter-caste couples; and implement the law preventing honour killings.

The CPI strongly condemned the Union Petroleum Ministry for publishing a photo of RSS leader V.D. Savarkar alongside Mahatma Gandhi, Bhagat Singh, and Subhas Chandra Bose. It demanded an apology from the Ministry and action against those responsible.

Additionally, the CPI condemned the police’s treatment of conservancy workers in Chennai.

Defamatory statements

Speaking at the public meeting, CPI State secretary R. Mutharasan criticised AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami for aligning with the BJP despite previously promising not to do so. He accused Mr. Palaniswami of spreading defamatory statements against the Left parties and asserted that the AIADMK-BJP alliance would be defeated in the 2026 Assembly election.

CPI general secretary D. Raja highlighted the party’s history, noting that both CPI and RSS were founded in 1925. He said while the CPI fought battles during the British period for the freedom struggle, the RSS did not participate in the movement. He added that the RSS was banned following Mahatma Gandhi’s assassination, yet Prime Minister Narendra Modi praised the organisation in his Independence Day speech.

Mr. Raja called for strengthening the CPI to ensure adequate representation in the Tamil Nadu Assembly. He also criticised India’s silence on the genocide in Gaza, stating that historically, India had always supported the Palestinian cause. He concluded by announcing that the CPI’s national conference would soon be held in Punjab and emphasised the party’s responsibility to work with democratic forces to unseat the BJP at the Centre.