The Communist Party of India (Marxist) has sought an explanation on the status of divestment in second-rung public sector undertakings, or non-navratnas, in the common minimum programme besides demanding a withdrawal of the previous government's policies on contract labour and fixed-term employment.
It has also pressed for the inclusion of at least six more issues in the common agenda, including the Women's Reservation Bill, employment generation, the public distribution system, and a Bill for agriculture and unorganised sector workers.
Ahead of a 75-minute meeting with its allies tonight, the Congress had circulated a revised draft of the common minimum programme, incorporating changes based on feedback on the first draft.
The Left parties had discussed the draft earlier in the day after which CPM spokesperson Sitaram Yechury called on Sonia Gandhi.
Lok Janshakti leader Ram Vilas Paswan said the United Progressive Alliance's final common minimum programme would be released on May 27. The allies will again meet on May 25 to give a final shape to the programme.
"Though we broadly agree with the contents of the common minimum programme, there is a need for further deliberations so as to make it really a mutually acceptable one," CPM sources said.
The CPM politburo will meet in Kolkata on Tuesday to hold discussions on the common minimum programme, besides deciding on whether to accept the Congress offer to make senior party leader Somnath Chatterjee Lok Sabha Speaker.
On the contentious issue of divestment, the CPM wants a clear explanation on the status of profit-making small and medium enterprises and loss-making and potentially loss-making public firms.
The common minimum programme makes it clear that there will be no divestment of companies like Bharat Heavy Electricals, Oil and Natural Gas Corporation, Hindustan Petroleum, Indian Oil Corporation, National Thermal Power Corporation and Bharat Petroleum.
The CPM alleges that the previous government perpetuated anti-labour policies like contract labour and the fixed-term employment (contractual employment).
They argue that the common minimum programme must give priority to "undoing" these anti-labour policies. It is understood that the party is keen on bringing in a Workers' Participation in Management Bill.
Party workers said the outcome of the politburo meeting in Kolkata would spell the difference between the demands of the party and the draft prepared by the Congress.
