People's Democracy

WEST BENGAL SATE COMMITTEE

‘Fight to Defend the Gains and Rights

of Working People Will Continue’

THE CPI(M) West Bengal state committee has asserted that despite the setback in elections, the fight to defend the gains and rights of the working people and democracy would go on. There is no room for frustration.  In the first post-poll meeting held on May 17, the state committee has given a call for mobilising all peace-loving and democratic-minded people to maintain peace and defend democratic atmosphere in the state in the face of heinous attacks on the Left activists.

In a statement after the meeting, the state committee stated, “The CPI(M) and the Left Front have experienced unexpectedly bad result in the elections. A comprehensive review of the results will be undertaken at all levels of the Party. The state committee will meet for review in first half of June. Primarily, the state committee is of the opinion that majority of the voters have been influenced by the slogan of change raised by the anti-Left forces. This result is a reflection of that process. All other factors of the result will be discussed in detail in the Party.”

Biman Basu has said in the meeting that after the negative results in 2008 panchayat elections and 2009 Lok Sabha elections, the causes were identified. Corrective measures were taken in political, administrative and organisational spheres. Gradually, Party activists and Left sympathisers were mobilised and political programmes were advanced. In the assembly elections, large number of people participated in campaign in support of the Left Front. Enhanced response was witnessed in the meetings, rallies and other such programmes. On that basis, it was anticipated that it would be possible to march forward towards establishing the eighth Left Front government. But that political goal could not be achieved. Though the Left Front has gained more votes than Lok Sabha elections, there was a drop in vote share in percentage point. Despite all these, more than 1crore 95 lakh people voted for the Left Front. All aspects will come under review.

The state committee has warmly greeted Left Front activists and large number of people for the hard work they have put in during the election campaign.

The state committee, in the communiqué, has noted with concern that a reign of terror has been unleashed by Trinamool Congress throughout the state, immediately after the results were declared. Two important leaders of the Party have been murdered in West Midnapore and Bankura while a Party woman supporter was killed in Raina in Bardhaman. TMC miscreants are attacking Party offices, particularly in West Midnapore and Hooghly. Houses are being looted and Left activists are being chased away from villages. In many other districts, Party offices have been attacked; trade union offices have become target of violent attacks. In some areas, paddy has been looted; attacks on wages of agricultural workers have been started. Violence has been let loose in colleges and universities, student union rooms have been forcibly occupied. Elected members of pachayat are being debarred from work. TMC and the ‘Maoists’ have forced people to surrender before them. There have been attacks on rights of the people thus endangering democracy and democratic system. Social organisations like clubs and libraries have also become targets of violence. Women are being tortured, especially with incidents of molestation and other cruel attacks that have occurred already. The sale and distribution of Ganashakti daily has also come under attack. There is a sustained effort to create an atmosphere of terror in the state.

The CPI(M) has called upon Party and Left Front activists to mobilise people to maintain peace and defend democratic atmosphere.

The state committee has asserted that the relevance of the Left is irrefutable in national and state politics. The struggle to defend the rights of the working people and democracy will continue.

Meanwhile, the Left Front has decided to campaign against the anti-people policies of the central government. A rally will be held in Kolkata protesting petro price hikes in the last week of May.

(INN)