The CPI(M) on Monday slammed the UPA government for "lacking" political will to tackle corruption and said that it will launch a nationwide agitation on the issue.

The UPA government has "failed" to tackle corruption which must be brought to the attention of the people, CPI(M) politburo member S Ramchandra Pillai told reporters here.

The CPI(M) has decided to launch a nation wide agitation to compel the centre to deal sternly with corruption, he said.

The schedule of the proposed agitation against corruption will be decided soon by the central leadership of the party, Pillai said.

The CPI(M) leader urged the centre to act strongly against corruption to restore public faith in the political system and asked the latter to take steps like, enactment of a strong Lokpal bill with the prime minister being in the ambit of the proposed legislation, a national judicial commission to check corruption in judiciary, crackdown on the nexus among the corrupt corporates, politicians and bureaucrats.

He further demanded electoral reforms to check use of muscle and money power in the elections and urgent steps to bring back ill-gotten wealth stashed in foreign banks, besides roll back of neo-liberal economic policies and ban on privatization of public properties.