CPIML Election Campaign: A Struggle for Democracy and Justice

The CPI(ML) campaign for the assembly elections in Jharkhand, and by-elections in four states—Bihar, Assam, West Bengal, and Rajasthan—emphasized countering BJP's crony-capitalist agenda, communal polarization, and anti-democratic tactics. The campaign resonated with people by centering on issues of livelihood, rights, and the defense of democracy and the Constitution.

Jharkhand: Victory Amid Challenges

In Jharkhand, CPI(ML) contested four seats—Bagodar, Nirsa, Sindri, and Dhanwar. The party won Nirsa and Sindri, with Arup Chatterjee and Chandradev Mahto securing decisive victories, defeating BJP candidates. However, CPI(ML) lost its traditional stronghold Bagodar, held since 1990 (except 2014), where Vinod Singh polled 94,884 votes but fell short. Rajkumar Yadav also lost in Dhanwar. . Comrade Vinod Singh has been representing this seat since then. Bagodar, Nirsa and Sindri were fought as part of the INDIA alliance, while in Dhanwar, JMM had also fielded its candidate.

CPIML’s election manifesto for Jharkhand was released on November 3, 2024, focused on defeating BJP to protect the resources of the state that the Modi-BJP regime wants to destroy and exploit for the benefit of its corporate cronies. It also noted that the Modi government has consistently targeted Jharkhand, disrespecting the 2019 state mandate. The BJP has weaponized institutions like the ED and CBI to undermine the rights of people of Jharkhand and has fueled communal tensions. Promises regarding employment and reservation policy have been stalled.

The Jharkhand manifesto also focused on generating employment opportunities in the state and called for reversing the privatisation of mining, industry, and services. The improved budget allocations for education, ensuring quality schooling at the block level and accessible transportation for students was also a major pledge in the manifesto along with increased funding for education, health, sports, and universal housing and universal access to ration. The burning issue of environment and fight against deforestation, destruction of rivers, land-grab policies and productive lands being converted into residential zones and ever-growing mountains of debris that are disrupting Jharkhand’s ecosystem were raised prominently. It also called for strict enforcement of the Fifth Schedule to protect Jharkhand’s ecology and indigenous heritage.

"In many ways, the Jharkhand elections have exposed the limits of the BJP's communal and authoritarian politics. The defeat of their hate campaign is a victory for India's democracy and social justice," said CPIML GS Dipankar Bhattacharya after the results were declared.

At the heart of the BJP's campaign was a strategy of hate and fear, attempting to pit Adivasis against Muslims by falsely portraying the latter as "Bangladeshi infiltrators." This divisive agenda, complemented by misuse of institutions and destabilization attempts, was rejected resoundingly by the people. The unification of the erstwhile Marxist Coordination Committee with the CPI(ML) and the coming together of the legacies of Comrade AK Roy and the CPI(ML) movement played a significant role in pushing the BJP back in the Dhanbad-Bokaro region.

Dipankar Bhattacharya, addressing a rally in Sindri, called for reclaiming Jharkhand's revolutionary legacy, saying: "The red flag must rise again in the historic citadel of the working-class movement, freeing Sindri from the corporate-communal nexus."

Bihar: A Close Call in Tarari

In the Tarari bye-election, CPI(ML)'s Raju Yadav, supported by the INDIA alliance, narrowly lost despite securing 68,143 votes. This seat had become vacant after Sudama Prasad won the Ara Lok Sabha seat. During the campaign, a joint INDIA alliance rally was organised on 11 November in Tarari, which was joined by Dipankar Bhattacharya, Tejashwi Yadav and Mukesh Sahani.

The campaign faced BJP's intimidation tactics and violence, as feudal-communal elements targeted CPI(ML) supporters. In booth no 223, village Dharmapura, feudal communal elements in support of BJP candidate attacked CPIML voters with impunity. The incident was reported to local administration immediately but the Election Commission did not initiate any action against this brazen violation of the code of conduct to ensure free and fair polling. Lalan Yadav was seriously injured in this attack and had to be hospitalised for many days. While he was treated in the hospital, local police lodged a false case against the victim himself. Such an administrative bias is not new in Bihar! He was later set free when the Chief Judicial Magistrate refused to send him to jail and verbally scolded the police for this injustice. The police have not arrested any of the attackers so far.

Despite these challenges, the campaign highlighted Tarari's legacy of resistance and demanded justice for victims of electoral violence. "The BJP's desperation was evident in its misuse of state machinery and spreading of hate propaganda, but Tarari demonstrated that the fight for justice and rights continues to inspire the people," added Dipankar Bhattacharya.

West Bengal, Assam, and Rajasthan: Challenges Persist

In West Bengal, CPI(ML)'s Debajyoti Mazumdar contested Naihati with Left Front support, securing 7,593 votes. In Rajasthan, Shankar Lal Meena polled 1,771 votes from Salumbar (ST), while in Assam, Lakhikanta Kurmi garnered 5,093 votes in Behali. While the results highlight the challenges faced by smaller Left parties, they also underscore the need for broader Left unity against BJP's divisive policies.

BJP's Tactics: Communal Hate and Administrative Abuse

This time again the elections were marked with rampant violations of model code of conduct and vicious, hate-filled false narratives by the BJP leaders besides an even more vitriolic and divisive propaganda through unofficial social media handles of the BJP-RSS establishment. On a number of occasions opposition parties made complaints to the Election Commission which went unheard without any remedy. BJP leaders like Narendra Modi, Himanta Biswa Sarma and Adityanath spread lies in their speeches in Jharkhand but their divisive agenda was rejected as is evident in the final outcome of the elections.

Ruling establishment's misuse of administrative machinery and huge amounts of black money is gradually corrupting the democratic nature of polity. A BJP secretary was caught red handed distributing cash on the eve of election in Mumbai, but he was treated very softly.

The frequency of intimidation and threats to opposition parties' voters with the help, or direct involvement, of police and administration has increased to dangerous proportions. The polling day incidents in Uttar Pradesh pose a strong warning to all democracy loving people where Muslim voters in many constituencies were not allowed to exercise their voting right on filthy pretexts. Thanks to some videos which went viral on that day, such reports came to light of police harassing minority voters including women. The ECI suspended seven police officials after one such incident was reported through a tweet by SP leader Akhilesh Yadav. But this was only a face wash action as the voters in Muslim areas continued to be stopped from going to polling booths. This brazen crooked act of disenfranchising a huge minority population undoubtedly poses a direct threat to the democratic system. The bye-elections held in nine seats in Uttar Pradesh need to be investigated thoroughly where some seats which are supposedly traditional Samajwadi Party strongholds were lost to the NDA candidates because opposition voters could not exercise their democratic right to vote for the fear of life.

Across states, BJP's campaign relied heavily on communal polarization, fake news, and administrative complicity. In Jharkhand, CPI(ML) filed an official complaint against BJP's disinformation campaigns, demanding swift action from the Election Commission.

The Left and the INDIA coalition must take the Maharashtra poll debacle in their stride and intensify the battle to save India's democracy from the continuing fascist assault and defend the rights and interests of the people in the face of India's deepening economic crisis.

In the post-election editorial, CPIML GS noted that “The November results have come right before the impending winter session of the Lok Sabha and just on the eve of the 75th anniversary of the adoption of the Constitution of India and the fourth anniversary of the historic farmers' movement. The indictment of the Adani group by the US Department of Justice has further exposed the Adani group and the corrupt Modi-Adani nexus. The Left and the INDIA coalition must take the Maharashtra poll debacle in their stride and intensify the battle to save India's democracy from the continuing fascist assault and defend the rights and interests of the people in the face of India's deepening economic crisis.”

Fact-Finding | Eating Mango Kernels in Hunger

A left parties’ fact finding team visited Kandhamal district in Odisha on 3 November to investigate the deaths of tribals due to eating mango kernels. The BJP government in Odisha has not distributed PDS rations for months in this region leading to scarcity of food in this backward tribal area. August-November are lean months when food is scarce, the tribals were forced to eat mango-kernels which led to hospitalisation of many and at least two deaths. The CPIML held a protest on 13 November against this man-made food crisis. The state government made PDS rations available only after two had died.

Two women died in Mandipanka village of Daringbadi block in Kandhamal district, while six others are undergoing treatment. Those women were first sent on the night of 2 November to a Hospital in Cuttack after their liver got infected, while four others were undergoing treatment at Berhampur. The next day, leaders of three leftist parties Yudhishthir Mohapatra, CPIML state secretary, Narayan Reddy from CPI and Forward Bloc secretary Jyoti Ranjan Mohapatra, went to Mandipanka village to meet the affected families and inquired about the details of the incident.

Such a sad incident occurred due to extreme negligence of the government agencies due to unnecessary delay in providing BPL foodgrains. Every year from August to November, the tribal people face food shortage for four months. During this time, they do not have food items like rice, maize or work around the house. Therefore, they are forced to eat junk food like mango kernels. Earlier, they used to get rice for every month from the panchayat office. This time, after two deaths and six people getting infected, the rice was distributed after four months on November 2.

The deceased women had applied for assistance through Subhadra Yojana, which they could not get. There are many problems in this remote area related to government schemes like updating KYC in an area where mobile networks are very weak. The fact-finding team also realised the absence of proper health infrastructure which could have prevented these deaths. There is a village hospital in Brahmani which proved of no help to the affected villagers.

CPIML has demanded provision of BPL rice on a monthly basis in the villages itself. So far, they have to spend a whole day and money to go to the Panchayat office 9 km away to collect rice. The amount of foodgrains should also be increased, particularly In the four months of August, September, October and November, to at least 20 kg per person. Party also demanded appropriate compensation for the dead and injured.

CPI leader and former MLA N. Narayan, CPIML State Secretary Yudhishthir Mohapatra, Radhakant Sethi, All India Forward Bloc State General Secretary Jyoti Ranjan Mohapatra, Adivasi Sangharsh Morcha (ASM) National Leader Tripati Gomango and Disha Azad held a press conference in Bhubaneshwar to convey the report of fact finding team. These leaders condemned the remarks made by Odisha State Food Supplies and Consumer Welfare Minister Krushna Chandra Patra blaming tribals for consuming mango kernels as a matter of habit and tradition while sufficient food was available. Deputy Chief Minister and Women and Child Development minister of Odisha Pravati Parida also blamed the dietary habits of tribals for the tragic deaths. This incident has revived the memories of starvation deaths in tribal dominated Rayagada district in the early 2000s.