People's Democracy

Report On the 14th Manipur State Conference Of The CPI(M)

Biman Basu being received at the conference venue

THE 14th Manipur state conference of the Party was held on December 12-13, 2004 at the Conference Hall of the State Youth Centre, Khuman Lampak at Imphal. In the inaugural session of the conference, the Party flag was hoisted by CPI(M) Polit Bureau member and chairman of Left Front, West Bengal, Biman Basu. Party central committee member Nurul Huda was also present on this occasion.

Biman Basu was accorded a rousing welcome on his arrival at the airport by Party activists, who took him in a procession to the conference venue amidst slogans. The roads to conference venue were decorated with Red flags, wall posters, buntings etc.

Biman Basu offered floral tributes at the graves of the 18 martyrs who died in the protest demonstration on June 18, 2001 against extension of the ceasefire agreement signed between Government of India and the National Socialist Council of Nagaland, in Bangkok.

The inaugural session of the conference was presided over by N Binoy Singh, one of the heroes of the underground period, who was also the chairman of the reception committee. Dr Y Mahendra Singh, convenor of the reception committee delivered the welcome address.

In his speech, Biman Basu termed the conference as a turning point for the Party to strengthen itself in the state. He explained the adverse impact on the people due to implementation of neo-liberal economic policies by successive governments at the centre. He noted that the people of Manipur have started giving attention to CPI(M) on many issues concerning Manipur.

After Biman Basu’s speech, a cultural programme was rendered by the members of Performing Artists Centre and DYFI cultural group.

After this the delegate session began under the presidium of M Gulamchat, state committee member, L Kunjo secretariat member and Y Mahendra secretariat member. Biman Basu, Nurul Huda and state secretary M Shamu were seated on the dais.

A total of 46 elected delegates, including 6 women delegates attended the conference. The steering committee consisted of M Shamu and secretariat members Sarat Salam, Yumnam Ratan, Chinglen Mansnam and Thoudam Kamal. The credentials committee consisted of Thokehom Joy, L Rajmani and S Roma while the minutes committee consisted of M Gopal, S Bihari and Y Romola.

A 38-page Draft Political and Organisational Report was placed by M Shamu, state secretary of the Party. After this, Nurul Huda addressed the delegates session. In his speech he emphasised the organisational work for strengthening the Party in the state.

As many as 12 delegates took part in the discussion which continued up to 11 am on December 13, 2004. The answers to  the questions raised by the delegates were discussed in the state committee meeting presided over by Nurul Huda. And the replies, as approved by the state committee, were given by the state secretary. Certain amendments and additions proposed by delegates were also discussed. The approved amendments were incorporated in the report. After this the draft political and organisational report was adopted by the state conference.

Biman Basu addressed the delegates after the adoption of the report and explained the latest developments of the Left forces both in the international and national context. He dealt on the role of the Party and the Left at national level, particularly in regard to the attitude towards the UPA government at the centre. Basu appealed to the delegates to be alert to the many issues facing Manipur and conduct struggles on them under the Party banner.

A brief meeting of the state committee was held with Nurul Huda presiding over. Biman Basu also attended the meeting, which decided that the size of the state organising committee should not exceed 15. Out of this 15, three seats were made vacant consequent upon the voluntary resignation of Gulamchat Singh, Ato Singh and R K Sanajaoba. Chinglen Maisnam resigned on account of personal problems.

The following members were included in the proposed panel: M Shamu, Dr Mahendra, Sarat Salam, L Kunjo, Yumnam Ratan, Th Kamal, L Rajmani, Th Joy, Yumlembam Jogendro, Moirangthem Gopal, and S Bihari. When the panel was placed before the delegate session, A Binodini Devi’s name was also included.

A proposal for fixing the size of the state organising committee at 17 and another proposal to fix the size at 11 came up. However, 43 out of the 46 delegates were in favour of the size being fixed at 15. Thus the proposed panel of the new state organising committee was approved unanimously.

The newly elected committee met for a short period for election of state convenor. Biman Basu and Nurul Huda were also present in the meeting. Dr Y Mahendra Singh was elected as the convenor of state organising committee of Manipur. It was also decided in the organising committee that the old state secretariat will function till the time of Party Congress. It was also decided that the convenor is to discharge his duties from the Party state centre in consultation with the old secretariat members.

The decisions of the organising committee were announced in the conference by the outgoing secretary M Shamu. He also proposed the election of Dr Y Mahendra Singh and Y Ratan as delegates to the 18th Party Congress. He spoke about the need to strengthen the Party in Manipur.

N Binoy Singh, chairman of the reception committee gave a brief speech in which he thanked the delegates and other Party sympathisers, volunteers for making the conference a grand success.