People's Democracy

DEFEATING the BJP in Uttar Pradesh will be the main aim of the CPI(M) in the coming state assembly elections. This was the unanimous decision of the 17th state conference of the CPI(M) that took place in state capital Lucknow from December 28 to 30.

Addressing the conference on December 30, CPI(M) Polit Bureau member Prakash Karat said the third alternative that we talk about vis-à-vis the Congress and the BJP is only an immediate alternative that becomes necessary because of the continuing weakness of the Left. He stressed the fact that the bourgeois-landlord parties can be retained in a united front only by increasing the strength of the Left. The strength of the party can be increased only through independent activities; only then can we gain anything from the united front politics.

Regarding the situation in UP, Karat said the state is still a citadel of communalism; the casteist appeal is also strong here. This can only impede in forging class unity and class struggle. He said there is need to conduct agitations on the Dalit problem from a class standpoint, counter the casteist appeal and strengthen the party’s ongoing movement on the problems of the Dalit sections.

Karat also dwelt on the war hysteria being created by the BJP in the state. The December 13 attack on parliament, he said, was an attack on democracy. But instead of mobilising the people for a concerted fight against terrorism, the BJP is trying to use it for the coming assembly polls and wants to keep tensions alive till then. Karat also lambasted the union government’s attempt to push the draconian POTO through in the name of fighting terrorism. He categorically said the POTO, even in its amended form, was not acceptable to the CPI(M), as it will be misused only against the BJP’ political opponents, trade unions and democratic movements.

The state CPI(M) conference opened on December 28 when state secretary Ram Sumer Yadav hoisted the party’s flag. After the delegates paid homage to the martyrs, CPI(M) general secretary Harkishan Singh Surjeet addressed the conference. Detailing the four basic contradictions of today, he said only the forces of socialism can rebuff the USA’s hegemonic drive in the unipolar world of today. Russia does have a big army and weapons but has been unable to face the world imperialism since the social order changed there. Dealing with the US bombings against Afghanistan, Surjeet lambasted the pro-US foreign policy of the BJP regime, and showed how this policy has lowered our prestige in the world.

Regarding the national situation, Surjeet underlined how the BJP’s rule was threatening the unity, integrity and economic sovereignty of the country. There is need to get rid of this ultra-reactionary, communal and anti-democratic force at the earliest, he stressed. In this context, the coming assembly polls have a special significance. For, the BJP’s defeat in the state will unleash the process of its downfall in the whole country.

The CPI(M) leader said there was the need of a third alternative in opposition to the Congress as well as the BJP as both represent the bourgeois-landlord classes. Such an alternative is needed to defend the people’s interests, and that was why the Lok Morcha was constituted. Yet the CPI(M), Surjeet said, cannot afford to ignore its independent activities. It has to enhance these activities and further strengthen its agitation on the Dalit question.

The delegates session of the conference started on the same date and continued till December 30 forenoon. The report presented by the state secretary expressed concern over the activities of the VHP, RSS and their ilk in the state and the communalisation of education, police and PAC. Minorities --- Christians and Muslims --- have been attacked. They have also been made targets of venomous disinformation. The temple issue has been resurrected in a communal polarisation bid. The report also felt anxiety over the growing influence of communal and fundamentalist elements among the minorities.

Another point underlined by the report was that of growing casteism. All non-Left parties in the state are doing casteist politics in one way or another. This has only added to the exploitation and oppression against the Dalit communities. UP tops the list insofar as anti-Dalit crimes are concerned. Yet one has to take note of the democratic element that is there in Dalit aspirations for their rights, equality and self-respect. The CPI(M) must strive to save this element from being swept by the tide of casteism and make it a part of the mainstream of democratic struggles.

The report took note of the jungle raj in the state, deteriorating law and order situation, growing criminalisation of politics, rampant corruption, increasing atrocities against women, fiscal bankruptcy of the state government, ruin of agriculture, deteriorating economic situation under the LPG policies, closure of cottage and small as well as big industrial units in the state, and various other aspects of life in the state.

The report self-critically assessed the weaknesses of the party organisation in the state. A large number of branches are inactive. Members have a low level of political consciousness and the state of their education leaves much to be desired. However, there are certain positive features also. The growing work among the women and students augurs well for the future. A positive trend has been noted among the working class. Creation of a machinery for sale of party literature at the state centre is a correct step. Agitations on Dalit issues have created the possibility of reaching out to this most oppressed section of society. The agitation on the land question in the eastern districts of the state have led to a growth of the party’s influence among the poor peasants and agricultural workers.

Yet the task of converting the prestige and influence of the party into mass organisations’ membership is still a daunting task. The report put forward certain tasks for overcoming the weaknesses on the organisational front in the days to come.

December 29 was devoted to a discussion on the report, in which 55 delegates from all parts of the state participated. They all highlighted the weaknesses in the party’s functioning in their areas and tendered suggestions about overcoming them. The report was adopted after it incorporated these constructive suggestions.

The session adopted several resolutions on the issues facing various sections of society. These included one on the growing crimes in the state and another on the growing police repression.

Of the 242 delegates elected for the conference, 215 turned up; they included two special invitees. Sheetla Prasad Gupta and Ram Dulare Singh, both 80, were oldest among the delegates while Mujahid Nafees (22) was the youngest. A maximum of delegates (80) were in the 41-50 age group.

A big chunk of the delegates joined the party in the 1970s and 1980s. They numbered 134 (70 + 64).

Front-wise break-up was as follows: Kisan Sabha 90, agricultural workers 29, youth 28, women 12, and trade union front 37. The wholetimers numbered 65.

Most of the delegates were from the middle class background --- 53 from middle peasants and 69 from employees. Those from worker, agricultural worker and poor peasant families numbered 13, 18 and 41 respectively. The delegates included 33 from the scheduled castes and tribes, 68 from other backward classes and 26 from the minorities. Women numbered 12.

As many as 175 delegates had an experience of jail life. Nafeesuddin Ahmed spent the maximum 6 years in jail. But only 25 had any experience of underground life, with Ravi Sinha (5 years and 6 months) leading the list.

On December 30, the conference elected a 33-member state committee; these included 8 new faces. One is a permanent invitee. The new state committee then elected a 12-member state secretariat with Ram Sumer Yadav re-elected as state secretary. The conference also elected 10 delegates and one alternative delegate for the coming party congress. All these elections were unanimous.