New Delhi: CPM (Communist Party of India-Marxist) today (Oct 1, 2004) said it was imperative that the UPA (United Progressive Alliance) Government heeds the concerns raised by the Left parties as it cannot run without their support.

"There is a secular Government at the Centre which cannot run even for a single day without Communist support. And when we are lending it support, it has to pay heed to our concerns and follow our suggestions on policy matters," CPM politburo member Sitaram Yechury said in New Delhi.

Addressing the All India Left Students Convention against commercialisation of education, Yechury said the dependence of the Government on the Left parties also implied that the people's movement on major issues would have a bearing on the governance of the country.

"The possibility of the Government working as per people's wishes and expectations has increased. It cannot afford to ignore the people's movements," the CPM leader said as he exhorted the convention to launch a mass movement against commercialisation of education.

He noted that one of the influences of the Left parties on the Government's policies was the decision to levy education cess.

Speaking on the occasion, CPI (Communist Party of India) National Council Secretary D Raja said the Government had taken positive steps to "detoxify" the education system, but expressed concern over commercialisation of education.