CPM state secretary Surjya Kanta Mishra on Monday suggested that the Mamata Banerjee government should file a case in the Supreme Court opposing the Citizenship (Amendment) Act.

“The Kerala government has moved the apex court against the act. We have learnt that the Congress-led Punjab government will join the case with the Left government (in Kerala). We know you (Mamata) will have reservations joining us. So, you approach the Supreme Court independently,” Mishra said at a meeting of the CPM’s Calcutta district committee.

The turnout at the programme — held on the ground adjacent to Shahid Minar — surprised the beleaguered CPM, which had last organised an event at the venue in October 2018.

The issue of livelihood, a pet theme of the Left, was woven into the anti-NRC, anti-CAA narrative. The other prominent theme of the programme was Mamata.

“We wanted to bring a resolution against the CAA in the Assembly, but the ruling party didn’t allow us…. But finally, she had to announce that a resolution would be moved. She had to change her stand realising the mood of the people and sensing that the movement against the CAA is gaining ground,” Mishra said.