CPI(ML) to Organise Massive ‘Badlo Bihar Mahajutan’ in Patna on 9 March 2025
Addressing the CPIML Bihar state-level cadre’ convention at Ravindra Bhavan in Patna, CPI(ML) General Secretary Dipankar Bhattacharya announced a mass gathering—‘Badlo Bihar Mahajutan (Transform Bihar Rally)’—on 9 March 2025. The event aims to unite Bihar’s diverse struggling sections on a single platform to strengthen the call for change.
Com. Dipankar drew attention to the BJP’s renewed aggression following setbacks in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. Referring to its manipulative tactics in Maharashtra, he highlighted how the party first captured power and later secured electoral victories by questionable means, sparking widespread concerns over the Election Commission’s impartiality and EVM integrity. “To cover up these issues, they are now peddling the gimmick of ‘One Nation, One Election’,” he remarked.
The CPI(ML) leader criticised the Modi government’s failure to respond to pressing national concerns, particularly the recent revelations of the Adani scandal by American investigative agencies. He said that how bribes worth Rs. 2,200 crore were channelled to secure solar energy procurement in five states, with power sold back to India at exorbitant rates. He accused the government of obstructing parliamentary discussions, silencing opposition MPs, and undermining democracy. “The country looks to Bihar to force this fascist government to its knees,” he said, urging the people to embrace this historic responsibility.
Com. Dipankar also lambasted Bihar’s so-called “double-engine government,” accusing it of stalling progress, crushing dissent, and conspiring to drag Bihar backwards. “Over the past 20 years, development has been replaced by deceit and corruption. Bridges collapse while movement leaders are thrown into jail,” he stated.
Highlighting the state’s yearning for change, he referred to the ‘Haq Do, Vaada Nibhao’ campaign and the ‘Badlo Bihar Nyay Yatra’, which resonated strongly with Bihar’s people. He also celebrated the recent electoral success of an independent candidate in the Tirhut graduate constituency as evidence of growing dissatisfaction with the ruling dispensation.
Com. Dipankar also called upon scheme workers, landless labourers, farmers, students, youth, and minorities to join hands in building a new Bihar. He urged CPI(ML) workers to mobilise extensively for the ‘Badlo Bihar Mahajutan’, transforming it into a shared platform for all struggling social groups.
The cadre convention unanimously passed a 10 point resolution:
The ‘Haq Do-Vaada Nibhao’ campaign and the subsequent ‘Badlo Bihar Nyay Yatra’ have prominently brought the agenda of social transformation and justice to the forefront in Bihar. This convention calls for transforming the broad participation and collective claims of the landless facing eviction under the guise of land surveys, people burdened by inflated electricity bills and prepaid meters, Dalits and minorities suffering from communal and caste violence, women scheme workers like Jeevika, ASHA, and cooks fighting for their rights, students, youth, and women trapped in the web of microfinance companies into a massive people’s movement for pro-people change in Bihar. Towards this end, a state-level rally, ‘Badlo Bihar Mahajutan,’ has been planned in Patna on 9 March 2025. This convention calls for serious efforts to ensure the broad participation of various agitating groups in the Mahajutan and strengthen the CPI(ML) Liberation in the struggle for change in Bihar.
The Supreme Court’s dismissal of petitions challenging the inclusion of ‘Socialist’ and ‘Secular’ in the Constitution’s Preamble is a welcome and relieving step. However, the BJP-RSS brigade continues its attacks on the core values and principles of the Constitution. As the country celebrates the 75th anniversary of the adoption of the Constitution, this convention calls for building a widespread people’s struggle to defend the rights enshrined in the Constitution, as this remains the most effective way to defeat the fascist assault and uphold constitutional ideals. The convention calls for the success of the two-month-long ‘Save the Constitution’ campaign being run by the party from 26 November 2024 to 26 January 2025.
The convention strongly condemns the state-sponsored violence in Sambhal, Uttar Pradesh, where five Muslim youths lost their lives. It also expresses outrage over the order for a survey of a dargah in Ajmer Sharif, which violates the ‘Places of Worship Act, 1991.’ This convention resolves to resist such nefarious campaigns of the RSS brigade and demands the strict implementation of the 1991 Act.
Following an investigation in the United States, the Adani Group has been accused of violating American laws, including obtaining solar energy contracts worth billions through bribes at inflated rates. Arrest warrants have been issued against the group. The logical outcome of these allegations is a proper investigation in India, the cancellation of corruption-ridden contracts, and action against the Adani Group. However, the central government has avoided even discussing the issue in Parliament. This convention demands immediate action against the Adani Group.
The convention calls for intensifying the movement to demand the immediate launch of a portal to disburse the promised Rs. 2 lakh assistance to nearly 9.5 million ultra-poor families in Bihar, release the list of families eligible for permanent housing, provide 5 decimal residential land to all landless families instead of hollow promises of Rs. 1 lakh, waive pending electricity bills and provide 200 units of free electricity similar to Jharkhand, and offer a minimum pension-assistance amount of Rs. 3,000 per month for the elderly, differently-abled, and all women.
Against the attempts to establish bulldozer rule in Bihar, as seen in Uttar Pradesh, this convention demands that the government issue land pattas to the poor where they currently reside. It also calls for a halt to demolitions of the poor and crackdowns on street vendors under the pretext of anti-encroachment drives without alternative arrangements. This convention demands immediate steps to enact a new housing law for the poor.
For over a century, more than 50,000 families have been settled on 15,000 acres of land under the Court of Wards in the Bettiah Estate. The long-standing demand of the communist movement has been for the government to acquire this land and distribute it among the poor. However, under new government policies, these families are being declared encroachers, threatening their displacement. This convention strongly condemns the government’s policy, which seems aimed at creating land banks for corporate houses, and demands ownership rights for these families and the redistribution of remaining land to those in need.
The so-called ‘Mahila Samvad’ campaign led by Nitish Kumar, with an expenditure of Rs. 227 crore, is a gross misuse of public funds as it fails to address real issues faced by women and women workers. Scheme workers like Jeevika cadres are agitating for minimum wages. This convention condemns the BJP-JDU government’s insensitivity and demands immediate implementation of agreements with ASHA workers and provision of minimum wages for all scheme workers.
The convention demands measures to curb the arbitrariness of microfinance companies, waive all old debts, ensure government procurement of self-help group (SHG) women’s products, provide need-based loans through government groups, and hold police and administration accountable to curb rising cases of violence and sexual assault against women.
Finally, the convention demands the immediate repayment of funds to Sahara investors.
