also: ひだりとう
left-wing party
Only with reading さとう
Refers to a political party with left-wing ideology; the reading さとう is specifically used for this sense.
See also: 右党
That left-wing party advocates for the expansion of welfare policies.
左党 is the full word meaning a drinker or someone fond of alcohol, and 左 is its casual abbreviation.
Standard kanji form; the reading ひだりとう is the most common.
Alternate reading used specifically for the 'left-wing party' sense.
Compound of 左 (left) and 党 (party, faction). The 'drinker' sense likely comes from the idea of raising a sake cup with the left hand, or from a historical association of left-leaning groups with drinking culture.