Gulbarga, Apr 12 (UNI) The CPI(M) along with CPI and Samajwadi Party (SP) would organise demonstrations across Karnataka to protest against the price hike of essential commodities, CPI(M) state committee member Maruthi Manpade said today.

Addressing a press meet here, he said demonstrations and dharnas would be held in all districts and taluk head quarters, demanding the government to take steps to bring down the prices of essential commodities.

Attributing the price rise to the BJP led NDA government, he pointed out that the BJP government had introduced future trading in essential commodities, which led to the skyrocketing of the prices of those commodities.

Mr Manpade informed that the CPI(M) was entering into the election battle with the sole objective of depriving the BJP of power. ''The CPI(M) will support the candidates who have the potential to defeat the BJP candidates and thus we will ensure that the BJP will not come to power.'' Mr Manpade who is also the President of Gram Panchayat Employees Union claimed that the government had conceded the Union's demand of hiking wages of 40,000 gram panchayat daily wage employees.

Claiming that it was the CPI(M) affiliated Union's achievement, the CPM leader said government had also agreed to recognise them as daily employees and deduct EPF from their wages.

Mr Manpade, who is contesting from Gulbarga Rural constituency in the coming elections, said the CPI(M) would contest from 12 constituencies out of 13 in the district.

UNI DP GKT SP BST1859